Russian coach gets 5-game ban for racist comments
Gamula apologized three days later after Rostov's African players threatened to go on strike.
MOSCOW (AP) - A Russian soccer coach who said he would not sign "dark-skinned players" received a five-game ban Wednesday for racial discrimination.
The punishment is the strongest sanction for racism handed out to a player or coach by the Russian Football Union.
Igor Gamula told Russian journalists last month that FC Rostov had "enough dark-skinned players" and "we ve got six of the things" when asked in post-match news conference about rumors the club would sign a Cameroon defender.
He also made what he called a "joke" about the Ebola virus.
Gamula, who holds Russian and Ukrainian nationality, apologized three days later after Rostov s African players threatened to go on strike.
The city of Rostov will host World Cup matches in 2018.
