Manchester is a city of "fat people" and "debauchery", a columnist for Russia's largest selling newspaper wrote in a homophobic article that described the sight of gay people as "disgusting".

Alisa Titko, a writer for Komsomolskaya Pravda, also lauded Moscow in comparison, saying it's "such a pleasure that there are no such gay streets" in the Russian capital.

Having recently visited Manchester, she wrote: "It is true that there are many fat people in Manchester.

"Local young women don't mind when fat hangs down from their stomach and body - and does not fit into their jeans.

"Whatever, when they go to a nightclub they put on tight fit leggings and mini-dresses."

With Moscow set to host the World Cup Final in 2018, she claimed Russia was right not to follow the example of Manchester and showed why the Russian capital should not be "more tolerant to couples with non-traditional sexual orientation".