England fan shot in leg in Kyrgyzstan

An England soccer fan has been shot and wounded in an incident just days before Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Kazakhstan, it was disclosed today.

The supporter was shot in the leg in a bar in neighbouring Kyrgyzstan.

A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We can confirm that a British citizen was shot in the leg in a bar in Bishkek.

"The British honorary consul is liaising with those involved and with the local authorities."

She said the incident happened on Tuesday.

Today's Sun newspaper said that the fan, in his 30s and from Rochdale, Lancashire, was back with his friends after discharging himself from hospital, where the bullet was removed.

A local in the bar told him and his friends to stop chanting and shot him in the thigh with a pistol when they carried on, the newspaper added.