Zenit fans: No black or gay players

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.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/dec/17/zenit-st-petersburg-fan-group?CMP=twt_gu

Zenit fans' letter starts: "we're not racists, but...." But? But you're racists.

 

I agree........................













................. that Zenit are scum.



Backwards club along with Lazio, Hamburg, THEM and Chelsea.

 

Another opportunity for UEFA to show a backbone in the face of bigotry, one which they will most likely pass up.

 

bollocks, axel witsel is black

 

*.

 

Zenit seem like a horrible club with disgusting fans.

 

Definitely the opportunity for UEFA to hammer them but agree they wont do it!

 

They've got Witsel hulk and Bruno Alves

 

the teams needs to come out and tell the fans to * off, 2012 and people still dont like other people because of the colour of there skin

 

Alves can't be considered white, surely?

 

neither can Hulk

 

* fines wont do anything, hammer them properly

 

It's not bollocks. It says nothing about Zenit having no black players. It says the fans don't want black players or 'sexual minorities
at their club. They're vile *. Zenit's a horrible club as well, and hardly discourages it.

 

That is disgusting. I'd love to see every black player in the league score a few past them. Always knew Russia had a problem with racism in football and Zenit must surely be the worst for it.

btw Hulk and Alves are definitely both white. just because their skin is darker than northern europeans doesnt mean they aren't white, they are both, largely, ethnically portuguese.

Witsel is mixed race, his dad is from Martinique. So these racist *' wishes are already *. And what's the gay thing all about? As far as I know there is only 1 openly gay player in Europe, that's that guy in Sweden, so I don't see where that's come from.

 

Hammer who?

The club? They sign black players and have black players in their current squad so they've done nothing wrong, they've also made offers for several other black players so just how can UEFA can hammer them for nothing? Unless racist chants are made within the stadium directed at black players them UEFA are powerless to do anything.

The fans? UEFA can't fine them for obvious reasons nor ban them because a supporters group made these comments, any ban of Zenit fans is essentially affecting the clubs business and profits and wouldn't hold up in the Court of Arbitration for Sport, in fact if UEFA did ban them for these comments they would end up being ordered to pay Zenit damages for loss of income.

So quite frankly there is no opportunity to hammer anyone unless the racism and homophobia spills over into the stadium.

 

They sent death threats to Yann M'Vila when he was linked with a move to them in the summer then.

 

Absolutely shocking!!

 

I wasn't defending them mate. It's disgusting just pointing out those players.