Everton manager Roberto Martinez said Thursday it was time for football chiefs to crack down on racist abuse.
His comments came after Wednesday's European Champions League match between CSKA Moscow and Manchester City in the Russian capital where City's Yaya Toure was the latest black player to be subjected to verbal taunts by home fans, with 'monkey' chants heard round the ground.
"It is a real shame," said Martinez. "It is important for FIFA and the football authorities to do something about it and not just let it go or just accept it or brush it aside. It is time to make a strong stand on the issue and make sure it doesn't happen.
"We shouldn't see this happening season after season. We should be talking about a very good victory for a British club travelling away and fighting a good game against a Russian team," the Spaniard added.
"Of course (I was aware). It is quite disappointing," Ivory Coast international Toure told British Sky television following City's 2-1 Group D victory.
"It is unbelievable and very, very sad. We want to stop that and UEFA (European football's governing body) have to be strong, maybe close the stadium.
"It is always sad when you hear something like that and we need to do something."
City manager Manuel Pellegrini added: "It is a pity that these things happen and I hope that the right measures (are taken)."
The Premier League club's Belgian defender Vincent Kompany, who was not playing in the game, directed a tweet aimed at both UEFA and the Russian government, saying: "Racist chants again in Moscow today.. We've all said enough. @UEFAcom, @GovernmentRF, CSKA, all eyes are on you now.."
Kompany, 27, was born in Brussels but his father was a Congolese immigrant.
Source: AFP
