Zenit St Petersburg fans have started a petition to sack black players and only allow heterosexual players to play for the club.
Russia were announced as 2018 World Cup hosts in 2010, defeating England's multi-million bid in controversial circumstances, with Russia accused of making untrue comments and bribing voters.
They're based in St Petersburg, which is set to host games at the 2018 World Cup; another tremendous decisions from those marvelous people at FIFA.
The letter, entitled "Selection Manifesto", states that: "We have absolutely nothing against the people of these (Africa) and any other continent. But now black players are being imposed on Zenit almost by force.”
"We are not racists and for us, the lack of black players at Zenit is only an important tradition, which emphasises the identity of the club and nothing more"
Brazilian striker Hulk became the first black player to play for the club, joining Zenit in the summer for around £40 million
The letter also stated that fans would only accept players from other Slav nations, such as Ukraine and Belarus, as well as the Baltic states and Scandinavia.
In 2008, then-manager Dick Advocaat stated that signing black players was "not an option" to him, due to the fans extreme views.
Zenit are the only team in the Russian Premier League never to have signed an African player, but the rest of the country isn't exactly squeaky clean:
Lokomotiv Moscow fans celebrated the news that West Brom had signed their Nigerian striker, Peter Odemwingie in 2010. Odemwingie said after the incident: "Coloured players feel the open racism there and I recall a game against CSKA Moscow when their fans started the sick noises - I wouldn't have any of it and gave it back to them"
Russia fans were found guilty of setting off fireworks and throwing them on the pitch, invading the pitch, unveiling provocative banners and racist chanting at Euro 2012 in Ukraine. The national FA have been fined for racism four times in recent years by UEFA.
Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos had a banana thrown at him during a Russian Premier League game between Anzhi Makhachkala and Zenit St Petersburg in June last year. Zenit were fined just £6,000.
I could talk about this disgraceful behaviour that occurs on a daily basis in Eastern Europe until the cow's come home- it wouldn't make a blind bit of difference. When the people running the game fine a player £100,000 and ban him for one game for revealing a sponsored pair of underpants, yet fine a national FA £30,000 with no other repercussions for making monkey noises at players, there is no way a difference can be made.
It's sheer lunacy to allow Russia to host the World Cup in 2018. A country still living in the dark ages, thriving off corruption and greed. A country where you're effectively either filthy rich or living in poverty. A country that still believes in communism, and a country that believes the whole world is beneath them.
Next we'll be having major tournaments in rich Arab states that don't even care about footb.. oh.. how could I forget, Qatar 2022. That country that is out-populated 3:1 by Wales, reaches temperatures of well over 40 degrees in the Summer and thats main claim to footballing fame is when the Under-20's finished second in the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship after a 4–0 defeat to Germany in the final. That's not even a joke.
Next we'll be having major tournaments in rich Arab states that don't even care about footb.. oh.. how could I forget, Qatar 2022. That country that is out-populated 3:1 by Wales, reaches temperatures of well over 40 degrees in the Summer and thats main claim to footballing fame is when the Under-20's finished second in the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship after a 4–0 defeat to Germany in the final. That's not even a joke.
"I have finally been recognised for my part in the Qatari remake of Beverly Hills Cop 4 with this Oscar. Now, I buy Eddie Murphy and have him dance for me to Axel F"
I'm just so fed up with it all. I almost wish I'd never started following football, because the state of the game is so depressing. Racial attitudes from decades ago have been dug up once again all over Europe, you can now host any major tournament by stuffing enough cash into a brown envelope and giving it to the right man and the game is being killed by diving cheats.
I think that following non-league football and travelling to grounds like the one below may be the only way to escape all of this.
Selhurst Park in better days
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