RUSSIA: Torpedo Moscow have been ordered to play two Russian league home games behind closed doors in what is their fourth racism-related punishment this season.

The Russian Football Union said Torpedo fans displayed a Nazi symbol during Sunday’s 3-1 win at Arsenal Tula.

The punishment will take place in May, as Torpedo’s next two home games are already due to be played in an empty stadium.

That decision followed an incident in which fans abused Zenit St. Petersburg striker Hulk with monkey chants.

Only children and female Torpedo supporters will be allowed to attend the club’s next three away games, with men banned following violence in Sunday’s game at Arsenal Tula.

Torpedo fans were also found guilty of aiming chants at Rostov’s black players in November and of racially abusing Dynamo Moscow’s Christopher Samba in September, resulting in part of their ground being closed for subsequent matches.

Last month the RFU appointed Alexei Tolkachev as its first dedicated anti-racism official in an effort to crack down on discrimination ahead of the World Cup.

The appointment was welcomed by FIFA vice-president Jeffrey Webb, who also heads FIFA’s anti-racism task force.

Webb had warned last October that Russian football faced “huge challenges” in fighting racism and needed intensive education efforts.

A report by two anti-discrimination organisations early this year noted more than 200 cases of discriminatory behaviour over the past two seasons.

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