GENEVA (AP) — Rev. Jesse Jackson says Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup has “put the spotlight” on how it deals with racist abuse in soccer stadiums.
The civil rights leader, speaking to The Associated Press at its office in Geneva, says that “racism in the field of soccer can’t be ignored because it is so visible.”
Earlier, Jackson gave a speech at a United Nations anti-racism event and discussed that a banana was thrown at Congolese defender Christopher Samba after a league match Sunday in Moscow.
Also, Samba’s Anzhi Makhachkala teammate Roberto Carlos had a banana thrown at him during a match last June.
Jackson says “the visibility of these incidents puts Russia on the defensive,” and challenges it to prevent other instances before the World Cup.
