Dick Advocaat, the respected Dutch manager of Russian side Zenit St Petersburg, claimed that his club do not sign black players because their fans would not accept 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. For me there’s no difference between white, black or red. But they care.’
Imagine if the manager of a German or English side said that. UEFA would jump on them in a trice - and rightly. But the money in Russia buys a right to do pretty much as they please. Why else stage a European final in a country where prices are astronomical, accommodation non existent and visas all but impossible to secure. Cash, as every, talk … a greases palms where it matters.
