As I excitedly await the UEFA Cup final tonight, I am saddened by the fact that the most interesting story I can think to write about has nothing to do with the football.
Yesterday the Zenit manager, Dick Advocaat, was quoted as saying that he would not be able to sign a black player as the Zenit fans would not like it.
I would be happy to sign anyone, but the fans don’t like black players. Quite honestly, I do not understand how they could pay so much attention to skin colour. Frankly, the only players who can make Zenit stronger are dark skinned. But for us it would be impossible. (Telegraph)
UEFA of course, have a zero-tolerance approach to racism and are actively promoting the “kick racism out of football” campaign, so Zenit will surely be dealt with for this openly discriminating signing policy, right? Wrong! UEFA appear to have done nothing but sweep the whole issue under the carpet.
Rangers have done so much over the last year or so to stamp out their own bigotry problems and have themselves faced disciplinary action from UEFA. Why is nothing being done about a team where there is obviously a concern? This is a team who are playing in the final of a major European competition and may well be representing Russia in the biggest club trophy of them all next season – the Champions League.
Surely UEFA need to take action?