Following allegations made by Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure of racial abuse during the CSKA Moscow v Manchester City Champions League match on Wednesday the Russian 2018 Fifa World Cup organising committee has released a statement. "Whilst the alleged incidents are still under investigation by the relevant authorities, it is clear that all over the world a small minority try to ruin the wonderful experience of watching live world-class football for real fans.
"It is worth restating that all stakeholders in Russian football have made it clear that there is absolutely no place for any type of racial discrimination or abuse in our game.
"What is clear is that football is uniquely positioned to educate fans in combating this global issue. The 2018 World Cup in Russia, in particular, can act as a catalyst to positively change the mind-sets and behaviour across all involved in Russian football over the next four years.
"The Fans Law, that was recently passed into legislation, shows Russia's determination to eradicate the problem for good. The 2018 World Cup in Russia will be a festival of football where talented athletes from every corner of the globe will be celebrated."
