Peter Odemwingie and Russian racism

[prostak]

'The Cynical Challenge' has a translated interview with Russian football agent Vladimir Abramov about Peter Odemwingie's experiences at Lokomotiv. Their fans unveiled a lovely banner after Odemwingie's transfer to West Brom, and Sports.ru spoke with Abramov about the racism prevalent in Russian football.

Bearing in mind FIFA have stated that this issue is a major obstacle to Russia's bid for the 2018 World Cup, this interview can't have come at a worse time for the RFU. Highlights include,
"[Odemwingie] says: in Russia they don't like black people. It's clear we really don't like black people! No, we say we are white and fluffy. But we are not!"
"The French are not a great nation... the French national team, in which black players play... have no relationship whatsoever to Europe."
"Nigerians... are very insolent, headstrong, black nationalism is evident in them. When there are more than three Nigerians watch out: they aren't afraid of anyone."

Andre Bikey spoke about having carried a gun for protection while he was at Lokomotiv due to fears of racist attacks, but the problem isn't limited to that club, or even the city of Moscow. Assaults and even murders of African students in other major cities are horribly commonplace, and then there's the general attitudes to people from Caucasus countries. As long as the nation can't guarantee the safety of travelling fans from non-Slavic countries, I hope to God they don't get anywhere near hosting rights.

[Y21_Royal]

"Dark-skinned people - they're good, normal people, but we aren't ready for that yet."

Kind of sums Russia up doesn't it?!

Its in an interesting interview because Abramov clearly can't see any difference in saying he respects blacks and then saying that they have no place in Europe. A bit of an eye opener into a still deeply indoctrinated and xenophobic nation

[Wax Jacket]

he's barely even black.

[Deadlock]

Spacey would love this bit, though:

Is France not a great nation?

Abramov: The French are not a great nation. There are only 20-30 million French. Young people and their girlfriends prefer to live in expectation that when their grandparents die they will inherit their flats, sell them for a few million and continue to do nothing. They don't study, they don't want to work. In France they don't even have people to pick grapes!

[Stuka]

On the other hand though, hosting a major international tournament could be exactly the kind of impetus Russia needs to address it’s problems with racism. It’s all very easy to tut tut the Russians for their insular and close minded culture from our cosmopolitan ivory tower but through experience and given the chance they might learn not to fear foreigners quite as much.

[11.30 from paddington]

On the other hand though, hosting a major international tournament could be exactly the kind of impetus Russia needs to address it’s problems with racism. It’s all very easy to tut tut the Russians for their insular and close minded culture from our cosmopolitan ivory tower but through experience and given the chance they might learn not to fear foreigners quite as much.

That's a fair point.

Although I'll add the caveat, that it didn't work with Germany and the 1936 Olympics...

[bobbybottler]

I read yesterday that Odemwingie was born in Tashkent, which surprised me, as I heard only ever heard him described as being Nigerian.

[Stuka]

Anyway Everton midfielder Diniyar Bilyaletdinov is of ethnic Tartar descent and he plays for the Russian national team. A clear move to advancing the cause of multi-culturalism.

[prostak]

That's not quite the same as having a Chechen or Daghestani in the team though, is it?

[Stuka]

That's not quite the same as having a Chechen or Daghestani in the team though, is it?

I don't know man, those Tartars were good cavalrymen, not to mention good dancers. It could upset morale.