Four Pussy Riot protesters have been detained in Moscow within moments of being released from prison following their stunt during the World Cup final in Moscow.

They had been sentenced to 15 days' detention after they ran onto the pitch at Luzhniki Stadium dressed as police officers during the second half of the final between France and Croatia.

The pitch invasion by members of the punk band early in the second half of the final was a brazen act in front of Russian President Vladimir Putin and other high-ranking officials from around the world.

One of the protesters made it to the centre of the pitch and greeted French player Kylian Mbappe before she was detained. ( Reuters: Darren Staples )

The judge also banned the four members — Veronika Nikulshina, Olga Pakhtusova, Olga Kurachyova and Pyotr Verzilov, the only male — from attending sports events for three years.

The women in the group were clearly surprised as they walked out of the correctional facility, only to be rearrested by police.

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The group's official Twitter accounted tweeted: "olya's face when cops are saying her that she's detained AGAIN."

Mr Verzilov, who was being held separately, was reportedly also re-arrested.

It was not immediately clear why the group has been detained.

Lawyer Nikolay Lyaskin, who works with Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny, was waiting outside the court and said he did not know the reason for the rearrest.

However, a tweet on Pussy Riot's official Twitter page said they were being charged with "the organisation and holding of public events without prior notice" and could face another 10 days behind bars.

AP