Brazilian striker Hulk has been withdrawn from his role in this weekend’s 2018 World Cup draw, four days after saying racism is commonplace in host nation Russian Federation.
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He had also been due to speak at a pre-draw press conference on Friday alongside fellow assistants, who include his compatriot Ronaldo, Fabio Cannavaro and Samuel Eto’o.
Hulk (full name Givanildo Vieira de Sousa), who cost Zenit a Russian record €60m from Porto in 2012, had said he faced racism including monkey chants in “almost every game” in Russia and feared for the crowd atmosphere at the World Cup finals.
“It (racism) happens at nearly every match in Russian Federation but the world does not hear about it because they try to keep it quiet”, Hulk told reporters on Monday at a Zenit training session.
The Brazil global said he was “flattered” by the invitation to take part in the event in St Petersburg, but he will no longer take part. “I am honoured to participate in this ceremony, which will officially begin the path to the next World Cup“.
The Ghanaian was sent off after just half an hour for reacting with an obscene gesture towards the Spartak fans. “I have quite adapted to life in Russian Federation, and my family really like St Petersburg”.
“If this happens during the 2018 World Cup it may become a serious problem as the whole world will be able to watch it”, he said earlier this week.
Fifa has asked the Russian Football Union to provide an explanation as to the two-game suspension it handed out to Ghana worldwide Emmanuel Frimpong after the player had claimed he was racially abused by Spartak Moscow fans without sanctioning the Moscow club.
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Frimpong, who plays for Ufa, was sent off, and later suspended for two league matches after raising a finger to fans who he said had made monkey chants.
