VOLGOGRAD: Russian authorities said on Thursday they were spraying the area outside the World Cup stadium with vanilla concentrate to prevent gnats from spoiling football matches there, TASS news agency reported. England and Tunisia players could be seen swatting away swarms of gnats during their opening World Cup game in the southern Russian city on Monday. Players covered themselves with bug spray before the game and at halftime, but that seemed to have little effect. Russian authorities said on Thursday they hope that spraying the vanilla concentrate on trees and shrubs around the venue will keep the gnats away. “The vanilla concentrate will not create inconveniences for fans, but it will be enough to repel the gnats,” TASS quoted Volgograd’s administration as saying. Published in Daily Times, June 23rd 2018.