Brits, beware of gorgeous Russian girls – that is the message conveyed by an intelligence expert, who fears that their spectacular beauty represents a "sex threat" and might distract footballers from this summer's FIFA World Cup, held in Russia.

Professor Anthony Glees, director of the University of Buckingham's Centre for Security and Intelligence, has shared his concern with Daily Express, alleging that Russian women could seduce top English players under the cover of darkness in order to blackmail them before a big game.

"I know England don't have much hope [at winning the World Cup] but if there's some way to scupper England's chances even more, through food poisoning, or honey traps with leading players and gorgeous Russian girls, they will do it. […]

I'm not hysterical about this, I accept none of this is a done deal and I know some people are less averse to risk than I am. But I'm saying they could do it, these are the sort of things that could happen," Glees told the media outlet.