The Russian Football Union (RFU) will not be punished by either FIFA or UEFA for its decision not to take action over a controversial banner recently displayed by Lokomotiv Moscow fans.
Lokomotiv supporters marked Nigerian international Peter Odemwingie's recent sale to English Premier League club West Bromwich Albion with a banner featuring a banana and the words "Thanks West Brom".
The RFU’s disciplinary body held a board meeting on 25 August, but decided not to fine Lokomotiv over the banner.
"Only the competition organizer can issue sanctions," FIFA told the BBC.
"This issue does not come under UEFA's jurisdiction, since it is, of course, up to the national associations to regulate and run their domestic leagues, including disciplinary matters," UEFA was also quoted by the BBC as saying.
Russian Football Union director general Alexei Sorokin has insisted that the banana banner was not "racist” and instead referred to a Soviet slang expression, very rarely used in modern Russia, meaning “to fail”.
Racism has long been an issue in Russian football, with black players frequently complaining of abuse.
Russia is considered England’s main rival to host the 2018 World Cup.
MOSCOW, September 23 (RIA Novosti)
