Coach of Russia's FC Rostov hit with 5-game ban over comments about black players

Published February 05, 2015

A Russian soccer coach who said he would not sign "dark-skinned players" received a five-game ban Wednesday for racial discrimination.

The punishment is the strongest sanction for racism handed out to a player or coach by the Russian Football Union.

Igor Gamula told Russian journalists last month that FC Rostov had "enough dark-skinned players" and "we've got six of the things" when asked in post-match news conference about rumors the club would sign a Cameroon defender.

He also made what he called a "joke" about the Ebola virus.

Gamula, who holds Russian and Ukrainian nationality, apologized three days later after Rostov's African players threatened to go on strike.

The city of Rostov will host World Cup matches in 2018.

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https://www.foxnews.com/sports/coach-of-russias-fc-rostov-hit-with-5-game-ban-over-comments-about-black-players