Russian activists Pussy Riot have claimed responsibility as play during the World Cup final between France and Croatia was briefly suspended at the Luzhniki Stadium after a number of fans invaded the pitch.

France were 2-1 up and Kylian Mbappe had just had his shot well saved and as Croatia tried to break at the other end, four protesters ran onto the pitch chased by stewards, leading to referee Nestor Pitana calling a halt to play while the invaders were removed, with Russian president Vladimir Putin in attendance.

The four were dressed in black trousers with white shirts and black ties and emerged from behind France goalkeeper Hugo Lloris’ goal.

World Cup final: France vs Croatia Show all 95 1 /95 World Cup final: France vs Croatia World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris lifts the trophy after France beat Croatia 4-2 in the World Cup final AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia The France team line up in front of the World Cup trophy EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic greets President of France Emmanuel Macron alongside FIFA president Gianni Infantino REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia's line up ahead of the match AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba is challenged by Mario Mandzukic and Ante Rebic Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris looks on as Olivier Giroud heads a ball AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe controls the ball AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric is challenged by N'Golo Kante REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Diego Maradona shouts AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic controls the ball in the penalty box PA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Raphael Varane, Mario Mandzukic and Benjamin Pavard collide as they compete for a header Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Samuel Umtiti falls in front of Mario Mandzukic AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann takes a free-kick which assisted the opening goal AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic scores an own goal AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic scores an own goal from Antoine Griezmann's free-kick Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Danijel Subasic looks on as he concedes the opening goal Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann celebrates with Benjamin Pavard and Raphael Varane EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate socring the first goal of the game AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Luka Modric looks on REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Raphael Varane, Mario Mandzukicand Benjamin Pavard go for a header EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia TOPSHOT - Two fans pose before the Russia 2018 World Cup final football match between France and Croatia at the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow on July 15, 2018. / AFP PHOTO / FRANCK FIFE / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - NO MOBILE PUSH ALERTS/DOWNLOADS FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images FRANCK FIFE AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Marcelo Brozovic vies for the ball with Olivier Giroud AFP/Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic scores Croatia's first goal PA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Soccer Football - World Cup - Final - France v Croatia - Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow, Russia - July 15, 2018 Croatia's Ivan Perisic scores their first goal REUTERS/Christian Hartmann CHRISTIAN HARTMANN REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic celebrates after scoring AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia celebrate after scoring AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic handles the ball in the area leading to a VAR review REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 15: Ivan Perisic of Croatia handles the ball inside the penalty area, leading to a VAR review, and then a France penalty during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Matthias Hangst/Getty Images) Matthias Hangst Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana gestures players away before referral to VAR REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana checks the VAR AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia The scoreboard showing a possible penalty review by VAR REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Referee Nestor Pitana calls for a penalty after a VAR review REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ivan Perisic argue with Referee Nestor Pitana after he awards France with a penalty Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Players of Croatia react while Antoine Griezmann (L) of France prepares himself to take the a penalty EPA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann takes the penalty Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann scores France's second past Danijel Subasic Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Antoine Griezmann celebrates after scoring Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 15: Antoine Griezmann of France celebrates with teammates after scoring a penalty for his team's second goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) Catherine Ivill Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Ngolo Kante is replaced by Steven Nzonzi Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia A woman who invaded the pitch approaches Kylian Mbappe AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia A pitch invader and Kylian Mbappe high five REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba scores France's third goal Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate their fourth goal REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia France's Paul Pogba celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner) Martin Meissner AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe scores France's fourth goal REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia MOSCOW, RUSSIA - JULY 15: Kylian Mbappe of France scores his team's fourth goal during the 2018 FIFA World Cup Final between France and Croatia at Luzhniki Stadium on July 15, 2018 in Moscow, Russia. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) Clive Rose Getty Images World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe celebrates scoring REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia France's Paul Pogba celebrates scoring his side's third goal of the game during the FIFA World Cup Final at the Luzhniki Stadium, Moscow. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Sunday July 15, 2018. See PA story WORLDCUP Final. Photo credit should read: Aaron Chown/PA Wire. RESTRICTIONS: Editorial use only. No commercial use. No use with any unofficial 3rd party logos. No manipulation of images. No video emulation. Aaron Chown PA World Cup final: France vs Croatia Kylian Mbappe celebrates his goal with Paul Pogba REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris tries to dribble past Mario Mandzukic REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic gets the ball off Hugo Lloris and scores Croatia's second of the game REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Hugo Lloris watches the ball hit the back of the net REUTERS World Cup final: France vs Croatia Mario Mandzukic celebrates scoring as Hugo Lloris holds his head AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia France players celebrate after the won the world cup AP World Cup final: France vs Croatia Croatia's Sime Vrsaljko, foreground, reacts as French players celebrate at the end of the final match between France and Croatia at the 2018 soccer World Cup in the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow, Russia, Sunday, July 15, 2018. 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Dejan Lovren attempted to drag on off the pitch himself before the stewards dealt with them and dragged them off the pitch themselves.

Pussy Riot claimed responsibility for the invasion on their Facebook page with a lengthy statement.

They said: “LIGHTNING! Right now - the four members of Pussy Riot in the finals of the World Cup: "The Miller comes into play" on the World Championship!

“Pussy Riot in the finals of the World Championship – ‘The militiaman enters the Game’

Stewards apprehend a pitch invader as Croatia's Dejan Lovren reacts (REUTERS)

“Today, 11 years, the great Russian poet Dmitri Aleksandrovich Prigov died. Prigov created in Russian culture the image of the Militarist, the bearer of heavenly statehood.

“Heavenly policeman, according to Prigov, talks on his radio with God himself. The militia officer fabricates criminal cases. While the celestial militiaman gently watches the fans at the World Championship, the ground policeman prepares to disperse rallies. Heavenly policeman affectionately touches the flower in the field and rejoices in the victories of the Russian team, and the earthly policeman is indifferent to the hunger strike of Oleg Sentsov. Heavenly policeman - rises as an example of statehood, an earthly policeman - makes everyone hurt.

“Heavenly policeman protects the baby's sleep, while the policeman on the ground persecutes political prisoners, planting them for reposts and huskies.

“Heavenly policeman is the organiser of the wonderful carnival of the World Championship, an earthly policeman is afraid of a holiday. Heavenly policeman carefully monitors the observance of the rules of the game, an Earth policeman enters the game, regardless of the rules.

Stewards apprehend a pitch invader (REUTERS)

“The World Championships recalled the possibility of a heavenly policeman in the beautiful future of Russia, but every day a landless policeman entering the game without rules destroys our world.

"Let all political prisoners free.

"1. Free Oleg Sentsov.

"2. Not imprison for “likes”.

"3. Stop Illegal arrests on rallies.

"4. Allow political competition in the country.

A pitch invader and France's Kylian Mbappe high five (REUTERS)

"5. Do not fabricate criminal cases and do not keep people just in jail.

"6. Turn an earthly policeman into a heavenly policeman.”