MOSCOW (AP) — The top Russian organizer of the 2018 World Cup says an anti-racism campaign will be launched leading to the tournament.
Racism has become entrenched in some of the country’s fan clubs, which are heavily laden with ultranationalists and neo-Nazis.
The problem was highlighted this week when Brazilian star Roberto Carlos left the field in protest after a banana was thrown at him during a league game,
The head of Russia’s World Cup Organizing Committee said at a soccer forum Friday the issue is “very difficult to control.” But Alexei Sorokin adds that Russian soccer authorities are preparing a program aimed at ending racist displays.
