It’s somewhat surprising then, and refreshing, to see Shakhtar when they had Aghahowa, Okoronkwo and N’Diaye. Dinamo Kiev signed a couple of black players in recent years I think, and there is CSKA, who Advocaat refers to in the article, with the likes of Wagner Love etc. There seems to have been a gradual and slow introduction of black players into football in Eastern Europe, which is always a good thing. How they have enjoyed and found their lives there I honestly don’t know much about.

Totally agree with you on the article though. I wonder how CSKA’s foreign players found their experiences when visiting Zenit in the Russian league for instance. It’s a sad indictment, and UEFA certainly don’t do enough in my opinion. (See Roma and Turkish clubs in Europe for my own views, yet when something happens with an English club they clamp down instantly).

Hopefully one day things will improve…

Thanks for the comment. I am sure the image will be fine from what I have been hearing from back home, and also looking at pictures in the relative cities’ press. I suppose with a crowd that large there is always going to be some issue somewhere along the line. Perhaps subconsciously I brought up a Celtic comparison, but in fact I was just hoping to promote what wonderful support both clubs have, it is unrivalled.

As for the game, isn’t Zenit’s star man suspended? That is sure to be a big blow from the booking against Bayern. Just hope it will be a good occasion, from Rangers’ previous fixutres in this competition and also Zenit having their star forward out, goals seem unlikely and finals are usually tentative affairs but hopefully it will be a good atmosphere that will drive both sets of players on.

Enjoy the game? Only if Zenit throw everything they have at Rangers. They are exhausted at the end of a gruelling season, still in the hunt for four trophies. Some commentators have labelled their tactics ‘anti-football’, which is unfair, but Rangers’ game plan must take their limitations into account.