Work of art: Zenit fans unveil incredible Covid-19 tifo in St Petersburg - in pictures

A message of hope amid pandemic gloom

FC Zenit's fans stretch a giant Covid-19 tifo during the Russian Premier League match against Krylia Sovetov Samara at the Gazprom Arena in St.Petersburg. Courtesy FC Zenit in English / @fczenit_en

Zenit's fans unveil a Covid-19 tifo during the Russian Premier League match at the Gazprom Arena in St.Petersburg. Courtesy FC Zenit in English / @fczenit_en

Zenit fans' tifo transformed from a man holding a Covid-19 virus to holding a football during the Russian Premier League match against Krylia Sovetov Samara at the Gazprom Arena in St.Petersburg. Courtesy FC Zenit in English / @fczenit_en

Zenit fans' Covid-19 tifo transforms into a football one during the Russian Premier League match against Krylia Sovetov Samara at the Gazprom Arena in St.Petersburg. Courtesy FC Zenit in English / @fczenit_en

FC Zenit's fans stretch a giant tifo depicting a man wearing protective suit and holding a Covid-19 virus, prior to the Russian Premier League match against Krylia Sovetov Samara at the Gazprom Arena in St.Petersburg. AP

Zenit's fans stretch a giant tifo depicting a man wearing protective suit and holding a Covid-19 virus at the Gazprom Arena in St.Petersburg, Russia. AP

Zenit's fans displayed a giant Covid-19 tifo at the Gazprom arena on Friday. It was the first match played at the venue after the lockdown. AP

The Gazprom arena during the Russian Premier League match between Zenit and Krylia Sovetov Samara. EPA

The final look of the Covid-19 tifo during the Russian Premier League match between Zenit and Krylia Sovetov Samara. EPA

The Gazprom Arena during the Russian Premier League match between Zenit and Krylia Sovetov Samara. EPA

The coronavirus pandemic has hit the Russian Premier League hard, even after the end of the lockdown.

Orenburg became the fourth club to be hit by coronavirus cases since the Russian league resumed last week. It shows the virus will remain a concern for football, and all major sports, for the foreseeable future.

With Covid-19 at the front and centre of every aspect of life, football fans are expectedly despondent. But supporters of Zenit St Petersburg decided to spread a message of hope amid the gloom.

During their match against Krylia Sovetov Samara at the Gazprom Arena over the weekend, Zenit fans unveiled a giant Covid-19 tifo that transformed from a man in a protective suit and holding a virus to one holding a football.

Above is a picture gallery of the Covid-19 tifo. To view the next image, click on the arrows or just swipe.