Head coach of "Rostov" FC disqualified for five matches for his racist statements

Igor Gamula, the head coach of the "Rostov" FC, has been disqualified for five matches of the Russian Football Championship for racist remarks against players of his football team. This was announced by the press service of the Russian Football Union (RFU) on November 12.

The "Caucasian Knot" has reported that on November 10, Fikile Mbalula, the Sports Minister of the Republic of South Africa (RSA), and Danny Jordan, the head of the RSA's Football Association, asked the FIFA to react to the statements of the head coach of the FC "Rostov" Igor Gamula, which he made on October 31 after defeating the "Urals" in the Russian Football Premier League. Responding to the question on whether he would like to see the Cameroonian Benoit Angbva in his team, the "Rostov" head coach said: "We already have six black guys; do you want me to have the seventh one?" the "Interfax" reports.

"To disqualify I. V. Gamula, the head coach of the 'Rostov' FC, for five matches of the Russian Football Championship for derogatory and discriminatory remarks that were made by the official of the FC and that aggrieved a group of persons in respect of their race and colour of skin," announces the statement of the RFU published on November 12 on the RFU's website after the meeting of the Control and Disciplinary Committee (CDC).

"I respect the decision made by the CDC. I have listened to their arguments, and I sincerely apologized. I begged, and I asked them. However, perhaps, I have not been heard. I've got a feeling that I'm working for some kind of strange championship. It's a shame, but I'm still not a stranger! I want to apologize once more (...), of course, before all who could be hurt by my bad joke. However, believe me, there was no discrimination in my words and thoughts," said the head coach of the "Rostov" FC after the meeting of the CDC, as quoted by the "Championat.com".

Full text of the article is available on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’.