"There's No Black In The Colours Of Zenit"
14 February 2013
At least three Liverpool players are entering the line of fire tonight, when the Reds take on Zenit St Petersburg in the Europa League in Russia.
Andre Wisdon, Glen Johnson and Raheem Sterling could all be victims of racist abuse, as fear mounts ahead of the game.
In December, Zenit’s largest supporters group released a manifesto, calling for the club never to sign another black player or a player from a “sexual minority.”
In the past, a Zenit fan has handed Roberto Carlos a banana in a racist gesture, and a fake bomb was planted outside the club’s headquarters when Brazilian striker Hulk was signed.
Racist chanting is routine in Zenit’s stadium, and the club has all but given up trying to contain it. According to reports, the slogan "There's no black in the colours of Zenit" can still be seen painted on walls in St Petersburg.
Ahead of tonight’s game, Zenit spokesman Evgeny Gusev warned that despite the club’s best efforts, it cannot promise racist incidents will not take place.
"[Stopping racism] is not just the work of the club but of the legal authorities, the police and politicians," he said. "We work hard but we cannot be insured against individual cases."
Meanwhile, Reds boss Brendan Rodgers insists he and his team will not be cowed by racists in the Zenit crowd.
He refuses to let his game plan, in the form of team selections and strategy, be affected by the archaic attitude of some of the Russian club’s fans.
"I didn't think of leaving anyone out," Rodgers said, referring to the black players in his squad.
"These are young players who have experienced this in their lives before so we are going into a sporting arena and everyone from football, Uefa and referees, will support any player it may affect.
“I didn't think of it too much because they want to play and some are young players progressing.”
With the decision to award Russia the 2018 World Cup already under scrutiny for various reasons, more racist incidents in matches like tonight’s will surely be bad news for the Eastern European nation’s reputation.
And Liverpool may well have extra motivation to make sure Zenit's progress in Europe is halted.
comments
Yemadoda..it ws valentines day nd u ppl r busy discussin sokka matters, feel 4 ur wifes, gf's nd ur nyatsi's
Submitted by: Toughj
Date: 15 February 2013, Time: 04:50:41
Goerge Hummels also said of dis town claimin not 2 no black people, nincompoops!
Submitted by: Geees
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 21:11:49
The racists molesting Loosefool FC...
Submitted by: KHOSIJUJU
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 20:33:14
To their credit,the racists haven't started their racist nonsense yet...hope they don't do it this morons...the only player they can do it to is Cow Johnson...
Submitted by: KHOSIJUJU
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 20:23:20
I know what I am about to say may sound race-obssesed,or silly.I think before UEFA/FIFA try to abolish racism in football stadiums they should first find out what makes fans to be racist.I think they should come up with educational programmes that can educate the european society.remember racists are members of society.but I also think racist behaviour is/was encouraged by the europeans themselves.these are the people who for centuries viewed blacks as non-beings.It would take a while to change such mindset.maybe blacks should rise above the sterotyped perceptions of themselves held by these racist.maybe that can curb it a bit.
Submitted by: kvitova
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 20:22:15
@Mandrister,there's quite the collaborative of extreme racist mentality from our fellow bloggers rammed in here spreading like the AIDS virus.
Submitted by: kvitova
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 19:55:52
Such clubs should be banned or play in empty stadiums
Submitted by: wongama
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 19:36:17
@johnbarnes-jb the only reason I and guess other bloggers ddnt mention Cole is because its a Liverpool story but otherwise he's a moron too that Ashley Cole.
Submitted by: KHOSIJUJU
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 19:22:03
All dos who say johnson was supporting Suarez wat abt Cole who was supporting dat RACIST called John Terry
Submitted by: Johnbarnes-jb
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 19:01:16
U couldnt have said it better khosijuju. I hate Johnson too
Submitted by: Lwandlana87
Date: 14 February 2013, Time: 18:50:31