World Cup 2018 host city Ekaterinburg has controversially demolished a Soviet TV tower dubbed a “symbol of the city’s identity” as it continues preparations for the tournament this summer.

The Urals city will be one of 11 host cities for Russia 2018, which will be held from June 14 to July 15, and is currently undergoing a sprucing-up period before welcoming football fans from around the globe.

The tower in Ekaterinburg began construction in 1983 but was never completed due to the collapse of the Soviet Union, meaning it stood rusty and unfinished in the heart of the city.

The tower was destroyed by a controlled explosion at the weekend, much to the chagrin of hundreds of local protesters, who last week took part in a "Hug the Tower" rally.

Damn, they demolished the TV Tower in Ekaterinburg! A 30 years old huge unfinished contraction. And it's a little sad, the Tower was a symbol of the city. But of course it was wrong to keep it in such state. Good bye, TV Tower! pic.twitter.com/Jkf9AZJyzl — Neverend (@TranceNeverEnd) March 24, 2018

Russia is getting rid of its history. Tomorrow morning they will explode the iconic TV tower in the very centre of Ekaterinburg, 220 m (720 ft) height. What a loss. https://t.co/O0GgkSXur7#Russia#TVtower#Russian#travel#Historypic.twitter.com/2OpAFjGfn0 — Tania Andrews (@adventurus2018) March 23, 2018

Ivan Volkov, a 39-year-old lawyer and head of a committee opposing the tower's destruction, said the 220-meter-high (720ft) concrete structure had been a symbol of the city's identity.

"Now it's the symbol of the people's humiliation at the hands of the authorities because the decision was made behind the scenes. It shouldn't be done this way," Volkov told Reuters.

Local governor Eugene Kuivashev defended the decision to demolish the structure, saying in a radio interview: "No one seriously believes that the city needs such a symbol.”

Can't understand these dudes think the Ekaterinburg tower was a city's face — Ilya Orlov (@GoodGuyIlya) March 24, 2018

The city’s Central Stadium – which will be one of 12 host venues at Russia 2018 – made headlines when two stands at either end of the pitch were expanded beyond the stadium in an attempt to raise the stadium capacity and thus comply with FIFA regulations.