Russia: Player charged after reacting to racism
CONGOLESE defender Christopher Samba faces a possible ban for his response to racist abuse in the Russian league.
The former Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn player was subjected to racist abuse by fans of Torpedo Moscow while playing for Dynamo Moscow on Sunday.
Samba was substituted at half-time in apparent distress at the abuse, but faces a Russian Football Union charge he displayed an “unpleasant gesture” to Torpedo fans. The RFU did not elaborate.
Ivorian defender Dacosta Goore was banned for two games in Russia for a similar offence last year after showing his middle finger to fans following racist abuse.
RFU disciplinary committee chairman Artur Grigoryants told the R-Sport agency that the case will be heard on Saturday.
Torpedo was punished for the racist abuse on Thursday when the RFU ordered the closure of one stand for its next game at Saturn Stadium near Moscow.
Samba was racially abused in 2012 while playing for Anzhi Makhachkala, when a banana was thrown at him at Lokomotiv Moscow’s stadium. On that occasion, Samba threw the banana back into the stand and did not face any punishment.
On Tuesday, CSKA Moscow must host Bayern Munich in an empty stadium in the Champions League as UEFA punishment for another case of racist behaviour.
The Russian champion also faces UEFA charges over racist behaviour and crowd disorder at a Champions League game against Roma this month. Those charges will be heard on October 3.