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‘We’re not racists’ … The largest fan group of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg have demanded the club refrain from buying black and gay players following turmoil surrounding the acquisition of Brazil striker Hulk.
“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.

‘We’re not racists’ …
The largest fan group of Russian champions Zenit St Petersburg have demanded the club refrain from buying black and gay players following turmoil surrounding the acquisition of Brazil striker Hulk.

“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.

Source: sports.nationalpost.com

Barcelona’s relentless pace at the top of La Liga, fired by the insatiable Lionel Messi, has left their closest rivals Atletico and Real Madrid all but throwing in the towel before the midway point of the season.
Any doubts about Tito Vilanova’s abilities to take up where Pep Guardiola left off after four trophy-ladened seasons look to have been misplaced with Barca nine points clear of Atletico and 13 ahead of champions Real Madrid after only 16 games.
A 4-1 thrashing of Diego Simeone’s pretenders on Sunday, with another double from Messi, served to underline their dominance in a league where they have swept up 46 of 48 points so far.
Third-placed Real were held to a surprise 2-2 draw by Espanyol at the Bernabeu.
“Barca are left without rivals,” Catalonia-based daily Sport gloated on Monday. “The league isn’t won yet… but everyone thinks it is. (Photo: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

Barcelona’s relentless pace at the top of La Liga, fired by the insatiable Lionel Messi, has left their closest rivals Atletico and Real Madrid all but throwing in the towel before the midway point of the season.

Any doubts about Tito Vilanova’s abilities to take up where Pep Guardiola left off after four trophy-ladened seasons look to have been misplaced with Barca nine points clear of Atletico and 13 ahead of champions Real Madrid after only 16 games.

A 4-1 thrashing of Diego Simeone’s pretenders on Sunday, with another double from Messi, served to underline their dominance in a league where they have swept up 46 of 48 points so far.

Third-placed Real were held to a surprise 2-2 draw by Espanyol at the Bernabeu.

“Barca are left without rivals,” Catalonia-based daily Sport gloated on Monday. “The league isn’t won yet… but everyone thinks it is. (Photo: Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)

(via nationalpostsports)

Source: sports.nationalpost.com

nationalpostsports:

Tottenham Hotspur defender Gareth Bale (R) vies with Stoke City striker Jonathan Walters during their English Premier League match at White Hart Lane in London. Tottenham strikers Emmanuel Adebayor and Jermain Defoe were both frustrated against a stubborn Stoke side in a 0-0 draw on Saturday.

Source: sports.nationalpost.com