Football
Associated Press 7y

Alexei Smertin takes Russian anti-racism role despite earlier controversy

Alexei Smertin has been put in charge of investigating football racism in Russia, despite having previously appeared to deny its existence.

Smertin said his new role as the Russian Football Union's anti-racism and discrimination inspector meant he would "put every effort into keeping racism and discrimination out of the story of football in my country."

In a statement on the Russian Federation state official website, he added: "Ahead of the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018 World Cup, Russia, as a country hosting such big international tournaments, should be an example of global tolerance both on and off the football field.

"We will definitely show that."

The former Russia international and Chelsea midfielder was criticised in 2015 for comments made to the BBC, when he said: "There's no racism in Russia, definitely, because you know it does not exist.

"It's just like a fashion. It comes from abroad, from different countries."

He said some Russian fans had taunted black players with bananas "just for fun" and that racist chants were meant by Russian fans to distract black players on the opposing side, rather than as personal abuse.

Russia has been under scrutiny after a rise in the number of racist incidents at domestic games.

Campaign group FARE reported 92 incidents of discriminatory displays and chants by Russian fans during the 2014-15 season, the most recent for which figures are available.

It said there had been 83 incidents in the previous two seasons combined.

^ Back to Top ^