Russian FA give 3 match ban to African player who stuck middle finger up at racist crowd abusing him

The Russian FA have handed out a three match ban to a player who stuck his middle finger up at a crowd for racially abusing him.

FC Rostov midfielder Guélor Kanga, from Gabon, had vile insults and gestures directed his way by Spartak Moscow fans when the teams clashed in the Russian Premier League on Thursday.

In addition to the ban, Kanga, pictured above in a game against Lokomotiv Moscow, was slapped with a £600 fine for his “insulting gesture to fans”. Spartak were fined £800 for “the chanting by fans of insulting expressions”, which isn’t the same offence as racist chanting.

It is the latest unsettling incident to occur in Russian football following similar punishments handed out to Chris Samba in September. Comments that Kanga’s own coach, Rostov manager Igor Gamula, made about black players, referring to them as things, landed him a mere five game ban which he is currently serving.

Culled