Torpedo Moscow has been ordered to close part of their stadium for their next game after fans racially abused Dynamo Moscow defender Christopher Samba in a league match on Monday, the Russian Football Union (RFS) said.
"The match delegate said that whenever Samba relieved the ball, monkey chants were shouted in his direction, from the stand where Torpedo's fans were sitting," said Artur Grigoryants, head of the RFS disciplinary committee.
"The referee said that Samba had spoken to him about the racial abuse during the match. We also received an official letter from Samba. It said that when he touched the ball, monkey chants were shouted out in his direction from the Torpedo fans. All the different sources back up his claims."
Congo international Samba, who could also be punished for making an offensive gesture towards the Torpedo fans, was substituted at halftime.
Media reports said Samba had asked not to play in the second 45 minutes but Dynamo head coach Stanislav Cherchesov said he had been replaced due to a slight injury.
"Samba received slight bruising to his shin, he was taken off as a precaution," he said.
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.
