Racist Problems in Russian Football

Russia has recently been awarded the right to host the 2018 World Cup after a very successful World Cup bid.  Russia promised to clear up the ongoing problem of racism in the Russian Premier League.  Many of the fans of Zenit St Petersburg say that they ‘do not want black players’ in their team.  But it is not just Zenit fans who feel this way; it is all the Russian Premier League clubs.  It seems that campaigns to prevent these racist comments and chants, which forced Peter Odemwingie to leave Lokamotiv Moscow, are not enough.  But what can be done?  Is it plausible to start fining clubs large amounts of money or even deduct points if racist chants continue in the Russian Premier League?

Russian Football Union director general Alexei Sorokin

The Russian Premier League is becoming known for making players of African origin to feel uncomfortable.  However, the chief of Russia’s 2018 world cup bid has defended this racism by saying that ‘racism in Russian football is no worse than anywhere else’.  Lokamotiv Moscow displayed a racist banner towards Peter Odemwingie after his sale to West Brom which said ‘ Thanks West Brom’ and had a picture of a banana.  Yet the Russian Football Union’s director general did not fine Lokamotiv after he deemed the banner ‘not racist’.  Fans of Zenit St Petersburg recently waved bananas at legendary Brazilian full-back Roberto Carlos who now plays for Anzhi Makhachkala.  Roberto Carlos has demanded action but said that ‘he is too old to let idiotic fans affect his game’.

Racist Banner dislpayed by Lokamotiv Moscow fans following the departure of Peter Odemwingie

The first actions are starting to be taken by the Russian Football Union.  Just before their successful World Cup bid, the Russian Football Union set up a 7-point memorandum for the purpose of fighting racism.  This memorandum contains anti-racist guidelines and establishing a website called racism offside but this has not yet been set up.  Zenit St Petersburg have been threatened with having to play games behind closed doors if they are unable to control the actions of their fans.  Zenit fans have made it public knowledge that they do not want to see the club sign a player of African origin and on top of this, they are the only side in the Russian Premier League not to do so.

It would appear that the Russian authorities are starting to try to try to eliminate this racist reputation but also that the fans are not so willing.  Zenit were fined £38,000 by Uefa after black players playing for French outfit Marseille were subjected to vile ‘monkey chanting’ by fans.  Vlastimil Petrela, the manager of Zenit in 2004, claimed that he was not allowed to offer a contract to a black player.  He said ‘I wanted to hire a black player but I could not.  Whenever I raised the issue, the answer was always “Zenit is not interested”‘.  With World Cup 2018 on the horizon, the fans of these Russian football clubs must start to take action and help to eliminate racism.  This racism that plagues the Russian Premier League, forcing players such as Peter Odemwingie to leave their club, must be stopped now.  Racism is never acceptable and Russia must live up to their promise of delivering a World Cup in 2018 which is completely free of these racist comments and actions towards players.