Russia 2018 officials play down racism issue despite another banana throwing incident

By Andrew Warshaw

March 20 – Russia 2018 were forced into revisiting the issue of racism today but continued to deny it was a serious problem despite yet another widely reported incident.

Former Blackburn Rovers defender Christopher Samba (pictured far right), who is from Congo, became the latest victim after a banana was thrown from the stands, allegedly at him, in only his third game for his new side Anzhi Makhachkala in a fixture against Lokomotiv Moscow.

Samba responded by hurling the object back but it marked the latest in a series of unwanted episodes stretching back several years that have done little to eliminate the spectre of racism in Russia.

At a highly publicised, globally streamed news conference in Moscow to brief reporters on 2018 progress, Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, who is also chairman of Russia 2018, as well as a member of the FIFA Executive Committee, said it was unfair to single out his country.

“I can name dozens of countries with the same kind of events,” said Mutko who wasted no time citing allegations against John Terry, who was stripped of the England captaincy pending his trial in July for alleged racism.

“Just recently in England, one of the leaders of the national team…actually it was proved there were some facts of racism,” Mutko said, speaking in Russian with simultaneous but at times incomplete translation.

“It happens all over the world and it’s not good for anyone.

“Russia is not an exception.

“There are some incidents but we punish stadiums and we punish people who do it.

“In general the image of Russian football is not that bad.”

Last week, however, police declined to punish a fan who threw a banana at Anzhi’s Roberto Carlos during a match against Krylia Sovetov in Samara in June.

The Brazilian defender had previously suffered similar racist abuse on his debut for Anzhi earlier in 2011 against Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg.

Mutko urged Russian fans to be “partners” with World Cup organisers in ensuring a trouble-free tournament.

“Everyone is concerned about it – FIFA, UEFA – how to create a festive football and not allow vandalism and racism,” he said.

“We need to do it together and it’s part of our vision.

“We want to have a positive image of our football by 2018.

“I believe that when we have state-of-art-stadiums, it will help us make progress.”

Mutko’s view was echoed by Russia 2018 chief executive Alexey Sorokin (pictured) who said such incidents should not detract from Russia’s right to host the tournament.

“These incidents do not happen because something is wrong with preparations,” he said.

“It’s inevitable there will be less and less such incidents but I can assure you we are going to try, as a society, to eliminate such phenomena.”

FIFA’s director of marketing, Thierry Weil, said it was vital the World Cup was used as a platform to educate fans.

“Look what your neighbour is doing because it puts a bad light on your country,” he told reporters.

“It’s an entire education but it can’t be changed from one day to another.

“Passion promotes different reactions.”

Mutko confirmed, meanwhile, that the final selection of the 11 hosting cities, based on five specific criteria, will be announced in September this year, with two candidates missing out.

Contact the writer of this story at zib.l1734857469labto1734857469ofdlr1734857469owedi1734857469sni@w1734857469ahsra1734857469w.wer1734857469dna1734857469