By Andrew Warshaw
March 4 – One of Russia’s leading football officials has admitted the country must eliminate the “virus” of racism before the 2018 World Cup. With so much focus on Qatar 2022, Russian organisers have managed to escape the same level of scrutiny but comments by FIFA president Sepp Blatter have forced them to concede that considerable effort needs to be made to tackle discrimination.
Russian Football Union general secretary Anatoly Vorobyov told The Associated Press that “unfortunately not everything is going smoothly” with Russia’s fight against racism.
Last week, a report by two anti-discrimination groups, Fare and the Sova Center, revealed there had been more than 200 cases of discriminatory behavior linked to Russian football over two seasons.
“We have enough disciplinary measures which are laid out in our regulations. On the other hand, perhaps they need to be used more strictly,” Vorobyov said. “It’s necessary that the professional football league and the clubs work more actively to that end.”
Whilst World Cup organisers have routinely trotted the same stance about racism being a global problem, it was refreshing to hear such a senior administrator hold his hands up and admit how bad it was in his own country.
Fare executive director Piara Powar told AP that the research, conducted between May 2012 and May 2014, “shows a really quite gruesome picture of a domestic league which is full of aspects of racism, xenophobia”.
Last week, Blatter warned Russia could face sanctions if its record on racism does not improve.
“I am aware of the report – sure we are concerned, definitely,” Blatter said. “Racism is one of the items which is on my agenda on the very top, every day. If it does not stop then there must be some sanctions. We have started a big education programme with them. They are aware of the situation.”
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