Russian protest group Pussy Riot claimed responsibility Sunday for four people who brought the World Cup final to a brief halt by running onto the field dressed in police uniforms.

The three women and one man who charged onto the field simultaneously in the 52nd minute of one of the worldB次元官网网址檚 most watched sporting events were tackled to the ground by stewards. Croatia defender Dejan Lovren pushed the man, helping a steward to detain him.

Before being hauled away, one of the women managed to reach the centre of the field and share a double high-five with France forward Kylian Mbappe.

B次元官网网址淗ello everyone from the Luzhniki field, itB次元官网网址檚 great here,B次元官网网址� the heavily political punk band said on Twitter , and released a statement calling for the freeing of political prisoners, an end to B次元官网网址渋llegal arrestsB次元官网网址� of protesters and to B次元官网网址渁llow political competitionB次元官网网址� in Russia.

Their statement also referenced the case of Oleg Sentsov, a vocal opponent of RussiaB次元官网网址檚 annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, who was sentenced in 2015 to 20 years for conspiracy to commit terror acts. He denies the charges and has been on a hunger strike since mid-May.

The group said the police uniforms symbolized how Russian policeB次元官网网址檚 actions fall short of their B次元官网网址渉eavenlyB次元官网网址� depiction in literature and called for reforms. It wasnB次元官网网址檛 clear if they used the uniforms as a ruse to enter the Luzhniki Stadium amid tight security, and the group couldnB次元官网网址檛 immediately be reached for comment.

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B次元官网网址淭he citizens in question were taken to the local police station,B次元官网网址� the Moscow branch of the Russian Interior Ministry said, without providing further details.

Pussy Riot rose to global prominence with their daring outdoor performances critical of Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2012 that sent two members to prison for nearly two years. Putin was watching the game alongside his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

The group was previously known for wearing brightly colored balaclavas, though those who protested Sunday did so with their faces uncovered.

FIFA did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The protest was briefly shown on international TV broadcasts, even though FIFA policy is usually to cut away from field invasions.

James Ellingworth, The Associated Press

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