Sorokin refutes allegations of racism
The director general of the Russian Football Union (RFU), Alexei Sorokin, has denied that racist abuse is a "problem" in Russian football.
Speaking to the BBC, Sorokin, who heads Russia's bid to host the World Cup in 2018, said that "the Russian football union doesn't absolutely accept any demonstrations of racism and roughly restrains them with all available methods."
The last incident of alleged racial abuse by Russian fans came in August when supporters of Lokomotiv Moscow held a banner in the shape of a banana reading "Thanks West Brom" as Nigerian-Russian midfielder Peter Odemwingie prepared to leave the club for English club West Bromwich.
Odemwingie has also been subject to what he called "sick noises" from CSKA Moscow fans, but despite his well-documented protests, no action was taken by the RFU.
History of racist abuse
In past cases, several incidents have resulted in punishment. Spartak Moscow was fined £13,000 in 2007 when its fans held up a banner reading "Monkey go home" as Brazilian player Welliton joined the club. In 2008, Zenit St. Petersburg was punished after its fans harassed some of Olympique Marseille's visiting players.
But despite several clear-cut cases of racist abuse, Sorokin denied the existence of a problem for the RFU. "I don't understand why did everybody decide that there is such a burning question for us? There is no such problem in itself."
The RFU's director general said he failed to see the racist connotations in the banana-shaped banner directed at Odemwingie.
"I know that this banner applied to a certain player and to the manner of how he played in his last matches...apparently fans were not happy with the fact that he plays better for Nigeria and worse for the club. That's why they have shown their satisfaction after he left. And there is nothing racial in it... In Russia 'to get a banana' means 'to fail a test somewhere'."
Many expect the controversies over racism in Russian football to undermine the country's bid to host the 2018 World Cup.
England and the United States are also looking to host the tournament, with Belgium and the Netherlands and Spain and Portugal making joint bids for the event.
Tags: