MOSCOW: Christopher Samba has been banned for two matches by the Russian Football Union for the way he responded to racist abuse during a Russian league match.

The former Queens Park Rangers and Blackburn player was subjected to racist taunts by fans of Torpedo Moscow while playing for Dynamo Moscow on Sunday. Torpedo have already been punished for the behaviour of their supporters, and will have to close a section of their stadium for their next match.

Samba was substituted at half-time in apparent distress at the abuse by the Torpedo crowd. He was then charged by the Russian Football Union for displaying an “unpleasant gesture”‘ to Torpedo fans after being seen to show his middle finger to supporters.

Samba attended the disciplinary hearing on Saturday and apologised for his gesture.

After the hearing, Artur Grigoryants of the RFU disciplinary panel said: “According to the Premier League regulations Samba will have to miss Dynamo’s two next matches with Kuban Krasnodar and Amkar Perm.”

Ivorian defender Dacosta Goore was also banned for two games in Russia for a similar offence last year after showing his middle finger to fans following racist abuse.

Samba was racially abused in 2012 while playing for Anzhi Makhachkala, when a banana was thrown at him at Lokomotiv Moscow’s stadium. On that occasion, Samba threw the banana back into the stand and did not face any punishment.

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