Football
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FC Rostov coach Igor Gamula banned for five matches for racist comments

The Russian Football Union has handed FC Rostov coach Igor Gamula a five-match ban after he was found guilty of making racist comments, reports the BBC.

Gamula, 54, was disciplined on Wednesday after he reportedly told Russian media that the club had "enough dark-skinned players, we've got six of the things."

The coach has since apologised to his players but has written the incident off as a "joke," saying: "I have a great relationship with all the team's dark-skinned players. The British press just doesn't understand our Russian humour."

The club announced Gamula's punishment on their official website on Wednesday, stating they can appeal the duration of the sentence after three games of the ban have been served.

With the 2018 World Cup set to be held in Russia, South Africa's Minister for Sport, Fikile Mbalula, and South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan called on world football's governing body to investigate Gamula.

"Any country that is going to host the World Cup should be hospitable to any race or nation, without discrimination because of the colour of a person's skin and in particular Russia," Jordaan said.

"Therefore I believe that [Gamula] deserves the harshest possible punishment. This is not the first time that such things have been said in Russia."

RUF vice president Nikita Simonyan said after the disciplinary meeting: "Of course, you need to watch what you say, especially when we are trying to battle against racism.

"If you want my personal opinion, I think Gamula said he was sorry enough times. He literally slapped himself in his face for making such an unfortunate joke."

FIFA disciplinary chairman Claudio Sulser said last week that Russia will be punished if their supporters show any form of racist behaviour at the 2018 World Cup tournament.

Sulser's comments came just a fortnight after CSKA Moscow were forced to play Manchester City in the Champions League behind closed doors following past violent and racist behaviour from their fans, although 350 Russian supporters were able to gain entry to the ground on the evening.

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