Football Notes: Brazil's Hulk Fears 'Gross And Ugly' Racism Could Mar 2018 World Cup

Brazil and Zenit St. Petersburg forward Hulk said that "racist comments are made by spectators at almost every match played in Russia and he fears 'gross and ugly' racism could mar the 2018 World Cup finals." Ghanaian midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong "was subjected to monkey chants at a match last Friday in Russia." Hulk: "I see it happening all the time. I used to get really angry about it but now I just send a kiss to the fans and try not to get angry" (REUTERS, 7/20). ... Poland's football federation PZPN "has passed draft regulation under which sides competing in the country's top tier Ekstraklasa will be allowed a maximum of three players from outside of the EU on the pitch at one time." In the '16-17 season, this "will be further decreased to two players per team." The regulation "will also apply to matches played in the Cup of Poland." The restrictions "will cover the I Liga, Poland's second tier, with squads allowed to include only one non-EU footballer per squad" (INSIDE WORLD FOOTBALL, 7/20).