Russia 2018 World Cup CEO Alexei Sorokin "has laughed off suggestions that the country has a problem with racism, ahead of CSKA Moscow’s Champions League tie against Manchester City, which will be played behind closed doors because of fans’ alleged violence and use of racist banners," according to Ian Herbert of the London INDEPENDENT. Sorokin "dismissed suggestions that racism, events in Ukraine and the contentious awarding of the tournament to Russia created unwelcome controversy." Sorokin: "Controversy about what? We are absolutely certain that we will stage a remarkable tournament. That’s the focus of our effort. I don’t even understand what controversy you are talking about." When asked if the concern about Russia felt by other football nations was therefore unfair, "he laughed." Sorokin: “What would you like me to say?” (INDEPENDENT, 10/20). In London, Mark Ogden wrote when pushed on the issue of racism, Sorokin insisted that "the game’s authorities were dealing with any concerns." Sorokin said, “The Russian Football Union is making all the efforts to eradicate these things. This [racism] is not a threat that is unique to Russia. We are part of the universal effort to combat any unwanted activities in the stadium, but we have read that some people use football games to self-express, but not to watch football" (TELEGRAPH, 10/20). In a separate piece, Herbert wrote Sorokin’s people "were not the only ones trying to button up this line of conversation." A CSKA press official "intervened to move the discussion on Monday after his club’s forward Ahmed Musa was asked to expand on his claim that the exclusion of the fans was 'unfair.'" CSKA coach Leonid Slutsky "did not even venture on to the territory." Slutsky: "I am a head coach, and to answer this question I need much more detailed information concerning this affair" (INDEPENDENT, 10/20).
NIGHT MATCHES: ESPN's Ian Holyman reported former FIFA official Harold Mayne-Nicholls, who is considering a challenge to FIFA President Sepp Blatter for the FIFA presidency, "suggested 1 a.m. kick-off times could solve the problem of avoiding the heat in Qatar during the 2022 World Cup." Mayne-Nicholls said that the traditional world football calendar "may not have to be disrupted." He said that "the evening start for match times would be less disruptive than a date change for the event." Mayne-Nicholls: "You could play the first games at 7 p.m., the second games at 10 p.m. and the third matches at 1 a.m. You'd change everything. It would be a couple of hours behind in Europe, and that would help TV" (ESPN, 10/21).
