It's already 77 days to the biggest of all football competitions in the World, the FIFA World Cup and with the countdown intensifying, whether or not we would have a hitch-free tournament is still in the balance.
The 2018 edition of the FIFA World Cup which kicks off on Thursday 14th June 2018 in Russia 🇷🇺 is potentially facing what could be a great dent on the image of both the host country and the organisers, FIFA, in the one thing the World Football body has always preached against, Racism.
FIFA is currently looking into an alleged racial abuse targeted towards French football stars, Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele in their friendly game against Russia a few days ago. The duo were reported to have been racially abused by Russian fans.
Racism has become an alias for Russia who have arguably registered the highest number of racial offences when it comes to the game that unites all.
In 2013, Ivorian International, Yaya Toure was a victim of racial abuse in a champions league game between Manchester City and CSKA Moscow. Toure after the game raised fears about the 2018 rights given to Russian for the World Cup and speculated that African players might boycott the Mundial if such behaviours persist. The former African footballer of the Year was also a victim of racial abuse during his time in Ukraine.
Peter Osaze Odewingie, Roberto Carlos, Christopher Samba, Kevin-Prince Boateng, just to mention a few have all been subject to racial abuse in Russia.
Racism might seem to be rampant in Russian football, it however has no colour nor nationality as it has show faced across Europe, even in the top leagues. Blaise Matuidi, Mario Balotelli, Cyprus Christie, Leon Balogun, Anthony Ujah, Bruno Martins Indi have all also been victims of racial abuse.
In 2006, Samuel Eto'o almost walked off the pitch in a La Liga game against Zaragoza during his time at Barcelona, after he was racially taunted by fans, only to be restrained by his teammates, members of the opposition team and his Coach, Frank Rijkaard. Rijkaard himself, a black Dutch man was sent off during at the 1990 World Cup for Spitting at German's Rudi Voller who racially abused him.
Recently, an ex-Chelsea player who has preferred to remain anonymous claims he was racially abused at the club since he was 13 years and it killed him but he did not speak up until another set of players raised alarm on this in January.
In the same light, Liverpool youngster, Rhian Brewster is also a victim of several racial abuses with the recent ones coming during England's triumph at the 2017 U-17 World Cup and in a Youth League match against Spartak Moscow, and he is so sad that nothing is done to eradicate such vices in the game.
FIFA President, Infantino, has also come out to instruct referrers that games can be abandoned in the event of racial chants.
With the World Cup just around the corner, it just continues to give one a great concern as to why such a dark age mentality and behaviour still exists in a country that poses as a world power house.
Awarding the right to host the 2018 World Cup to Russia by FIFA could have been one of the body's many attempts to see to the end of racism in the country, using football as a tool. I however hope it would not be one decision the ruling body would come to regret.