I am black and love Russia from the bottom of my heart. I think the core of the organizers of the Racism in St Petersburg are anti-Russia and anti-Putin. The FSB must find out. Russia brought light to the collonized, the poor and they ended houlocast too.....I love Russia...I Luv Putin! 

One major factor causing racial hate is that language barrier. Many Russians rely on their bias electronic media for information.  They are completely oblivious to what obtains elsewhere. And some of the commentary by public figures on media are mostly prejudicial and in most cases leaves so much to be desired. All those add up to fuel these racial hates. Every non Caucasian is a potential target for racial abuse. I still remember Dzaev the Russian Nationale and CSKA player was also targeted. Same with Semak. A section of the fans didn't want himin the national team. The reason being that he is from the minority tribe- not a core Russian. "Russia for Russians" is a slogan employed for political ends. A particular politician (not of the ruling party) reknowned for making incendiary statement is at the fore of spreading this idealogy. He had a brawl with a popular female Russian musician who called him a 'clone and psycho' on National TV during the last presidential debate. While I was there, one major challenge was the attitude of the diplomatic community whenever issues of racist attacks were reported. In Saint Petersburg at the time, people were shot with guns on the streets in broad day light- mostly foreign students. However, one must commend the Putin's administration and the law enforcement agencies for its serious clamp down on notorious gang members. A particula female high court judge who sentenced a lot of those bigots was assasinated. A lot still needs to be done because the problem is deeply entrenched in the lifestyle and nature of the people. They just live it out what they perceived as normal not knowing it is wrong. Its the level of ignorance. It is common to get scorned at on Russian streets as an African. Almost everywhere you enter, they'll give you that 'you are not wanted here look'. As if they do it for fun! Will take yrs of orientation and enlightenment for them to come anywhere close to what is obtainable in Western Europe or the USofA. However, its not all about the negatives in Russia: the people are resilient, hardworking, intelligent, fun loving, content and some are friendly beyond words. And that unique Russian spirit!!!  i believe with proper orientation and understanding of what happens elsewhere, they will change for the better. It however behooves on the government to consciously work in that direction. 

Those guys are just too proud, ignorant and arrogant. its what you get when people don't read and travel. They believe it all begins and ends in Russia. Blind nationalistic pride! They are irked by the fact that these foreigner are better gifted players and will be paid higher...It was made open by the rebellion of Denisov; one of Russia's international and Zenit player who enviously demanded for higher pay when Hulk was signed. Though wrong to generalise because their are amazing Russians out there, but this act mirrors the mindset of the average Russian...Except for the fews ones that have travelled, they are just too conservative for comfort. And sometime even too dumb to understand. This is very much reflected in their political choice. Some of what obtains there politically can not be thought of even in some of the poorest African countries. I schooled in Russia, and know how they think. There are YouTube videos littered all over the net on how they beat foreigners. Zenit and Saint Petersburge should be remove and isolated from the 2018 as to force the authority to do more at educating their people.