A Russian Club, Torpedo Moscow has cancelled the contract of a black player after fans protested the signing of the player.
Erving Botaka-Yoboma, a Russian citizen who was born in Russia and was even a product of the Torpedo Moscow academy, was signed to the club just 6 days ago, but has now had his contract rescinded.
Torpedo Moscow president Elena Yelentseva has announced that the player will not play for the club anymore and that his contract has been rescinded.
Russian fans have since gone on their social media website VK to harass the player: “Since you consider it acceptable to come into our home and our family without regard for our rules and traditions, we reserve that same right. We will see who comes out on top,” wrote one fan
“Black may be one of our club’s colours, but we only want whites in our ranks,” another fan wrote on the same page.
Fans were also displeased that the player has also turned out for rival club Lokomotiv Moscow.
Russian fans have been known to be rather harsh on black players with Zenith St Petersburg fans going crazy at the time when the club announced the signing of Alex Witsel and Hulk both of whom are black.
Interestingly, there’s a Nigerian connection as Agustine Eguavon was a Torpedo Moscow player back in 1997 and was then the first African player to play in the Russian league at the time.
