World Cup racism and hooliganism to date – report

An organization that monitors discrimination in European football has stated that it has not recorded any significant incidents involving Russian far-right hooligans or any racist incidents involving Russian fans at the World Cup.

Piara Powar, head of FARE Network, reported the good news before the knockout stages of the tournament.

"There was nothing on a large scale and nothing of Russians," Powar said. "It was one of the concerns of the tournament, which is good news from our point of view."

Russia was committed to organizing a World Cup safely in 11 cities, which would be inclusive and diverse, but racist incidents during matches between Russian Premier League clubs and at 39, an international friendly match have raised concerns about the abuse of players and supporters.

CSKA Moscow fans chanted racist slurs against black Arsenal players several times. in April in Moscow, while FIFA imposed a fine on Russia a month before the World Cup for racist abuse directed against French players during a friendly match in March.

Powar claims that the absence of racist incidents was not a big surprise. The efforts of Russia and citizens to project a positive image of the country to foreign guests.

"We know that during the World Cup period, the population understood that it was otlight," he said. "The world is watching"

Alexei Smertin, the anti-discrimination inspector of the Russian Football Union, said that Russia had received positive feedback from teams, supporters and officials. "Before the World Cup, there was a lot of We are happy that, after arriving here, all the negative stereotypes were destroyed, everyone saw the diversity of Russia and our hospitality," he said. said.

However, the absence of major racist incidents not worth that the group stage of the World Cup was without problems related to discrimination.

FIFA has fined Mexico for homophobia by its fans, Denmark has been fined for a sexist banner, and some women at the tournament have been discriminatory behavior. Poland and Serbia have also been sanctioned for "political and offensive" banners by their fans.