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only1waddle

Well-Known Member
Jun 18, 2012
8,150
12,294
Zenit St Petersburg fan group warns against buying black or gay players

• Zenit fan club Landscrona writes open letter to club
• Group denies racism but wants to uphold 'tradition'
Axel-Witsel-008.jpg

The arrival of the Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel, right, has angered some factions of the Zenit St Petersburg support. Photograph: Daniel Dal Zennaro/EPA
The largest fan group of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg has demanded the club refrain from buying black and gay players.
"We're not racists but we see the absence of black players at Zenit as an important tradition," Zenit fan club Landscrona said in a letter, called the "Selection 12 manifesto", posted on its website on Monday.
"It would allow Zenit to maintain the national identity of the club, which is the symbol of St Petersburg."
Zenit have been the only top club in Russia to have never signed an African player while the northern city of St Petersburg is known to have a strong right-wing nationalist influence.
The fans said they want more home-grown or European players in the team. "We only want players from other brotherly Slav nations, such as Ukraine and Belarus as well as from the Baltic states and Scandinavia. We have the same mentality and historical and cultural background as these nations," the letter said.
They also expressed their opposition to having "sexual minorities" in the team. Several prominent black players have turned down lucrative offers from the wealthy club over the past 12 months after receiving death threats from Zenit fans. A Zenit spokesman said on Monday the club would not comment on the fans' letter.
The former Zenit and Russia striker Alexander Panov said the fans have no right to influence the club's selection policy. "If we don't have enough good players from St Petersburg, then what should the club do?" he said.
"All clubs around the world have black players. If they are absent from Zenit – it's Zenit's problem. I don't think fans should demand the club buy or don't buy certain players. The fans have the right to go to the stadium or stay home."
Zenit have been in turmoil for the past few months with several senior players unhappy after the wealthy club splashed out more than £60m on the Brazil forward Hulk and Belgium midfielder Axel Witsel just before the transfer deadline.
Zenit demoted the Russia captain Igor Denisov to the reserve team in September after he refused to play, issuing an ultimatum to renegotiate his contract in line with what Hulk was making. Denisov was later allowed to rejoin the first team after making an apology.​
 

Leo

senor ding dong
May 16, 2004
6,534
706
Disgraceful.


I demand we get spursking to troll the fans group with email after email of his scouting reports.
 

3Dnata

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2008
5,879
1,345
Eufa will probably approve a kick multi culturalism out of football campaign with John Terry a high profile spokes ****.
 

tototoner

Staying Alert
Mar 21, 2004
29,387
34,059
this is a big story, you should edit the topic title so more will read it
 

Real_madyidd

The best username, unless you are a fucking idiot.
Oct 25, 2004
18,792
12,448
this is a big story, you should edit the topic title so more will read it

True.

It's an outrage. How many people did Russia lose in WW2 to still have disrespectful ****s like this? Talk about short memories.
 

dontcallme

SC Supporter
Mar 18, 2005
33,988
81,936
Indeed, it actually made the tv news over here

But why? It's not the club's policy just a fan group making stupid demands.

I lived in Russia for 2 years and remember how openly racist many are. It's a different society and some things won't change, at least not for a long time.

Not sure why a racist fan group in a racist country is getting this much attention considering it's not the club's policy.
 

LukaMotion

WHL 1899-2017
May 17, 2010
2,883
5,926
I dont think signing Darius Vassell would work out for them...

To be fair, I don't think signing Darius Vassell would work out for anyone.

But it's still ridiculous that in this day and age there are still people as narrow minded as this.
 

beats1

Well-Known Member
Feb 22, 2010
30,006
29,551
Would be a good time for AVB to go out and have another chat with HULK :whistle:
TBH I rather us try and go for Witsel if he is available everyone over looked him because of that tackle because he is a good player
 

3Dnata

Well-Known Member
Oct 5, 2008
5,879
1,345
The World cup there is going to be interesting for a number of non footballing reasons.
 

Riandor

COB Founder
May 26, 2004
9,414
11,621
It might not be the clubs policy, but players who are not very thick skinned are not going to want to be in that kind of environment. I hope for the sake of the sport and a move towards tolerance that players persevere and don't let themselves get driven out, but it is not the kind of press Russia will continue to want to deal with in the years leading up to the World Cup.
 
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