Zenit St Petersburg fan group warns against buying black or gay players

[TacticalBlues 2,817]

The largest fan group of Russian champions Zenit 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?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

What a disgrace, Witsel, Alves and Hulk must be on alert.

[Sheva. 5,373]

"We're not racists" lol, yeah right.

[Corner 456]

Madness, absolute madness... and disgusting.

'We're not racists but...' Only a racist would put the word 'but' after that.

[Yeboii 1,844]

At least that means Witsel is leaving

[We Hate Scouse 10,261]

What a backwards group of people...

[edetarod 2,155]

are you enjoying yourself Hulk?

[Stats 6,982]

They will not mind Hulk and Alves. They come under the category as dark but are not black players if you know what I mean. Witsel is the one who should be on alert. I am sure he was anyway but with the money he was being offered he probably thought he will play in Russia for a few years. I understand teams like Bilbao but Zenit fans like this are a bunch of retards and cowards!

[Rambo 1,729]

Wow what a bunch of cunts.

[Spike 12,049]

Can bisexual Japanese men still play for Zenit?

These are the questions that keep me up at night.

[Naked Mole Rat 437]

"We are completely paranoid about preserving our nationalist pride, which we believe is contaminated by the mere presence of black players at our club, and therefore we do not want their kind at this club, but we are not racist by any measure."

The logical appeal is strong.

[Spike 12,049]

i.e. We don't hate them because they are black we hate them because they are not ehtnically Russian.

[Hutcho 8,443]

We are not racist but we don't want black players.....

Doesn't the last 4 words contradict the first 4 words.... Clearly a bunch of idiots. They are only screwing themselves over, and their club which they apparently support.

[Jype 6,398]

I don't know which is worse, the Zenit fans being racist or them actually trying to justify their racism with a statement that makes them look even more racist.

[Fulham Broadway 16,410]

Well theres no chance of signing an openly 'gay' player as none have come out.

They could have 3 or 4 on their books already and not know

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Well theres no chance of signing an openly 'gay' player as none have come out.

They could have 3 or 4 on their books already and not know

No chance of any coming out with idiots like these still around.

Still a long long way to go to get rid of racism, especially when something like this doesn't even get 1% the media coverage and public condemnation that something JT said in the heat of a match.

[Laylabelle 9,301]

No chance of any coming out with idiots like these still around.

Still a long long way to go to get rid of racism, especially when something like this doesn't even get 1% the media coverage and public condemnation that something JT said in the heat of a match.

Its all JTs fault!What he said in the match caused all this because he is the reason for everything baaaaaad.

[Madmax 9,219]

When someone opens a line with 'We're not racists, but ..', you know they're going to say the most racist thing you've heard.

[teignman 441]

These "people", I use that term loosely, are not true fans. Any true fan worth their salt wants the club to do well. They shouldn't give a shit if their players are black and go home to a guy named Roger, or are white and go home to a beauty queen wife. They're beyond help.