51 replies to this topic

[arwebb]

I'd certainly make Fiorentina favourites to get past Rangers and reach the final in Manchester, but I didn't think Rangers would beat Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-final either.

[arwebb]

Anybody watch either of tonight's semi-final ties?

[Rei]

arwebb, on Apr 24 2008, 09:46 PM, said:

Anybody watch either of tonight's semi-final ties?

As for Rangers-Fiorentina you didn't miss much. Kinda boring. Rangers clearly played mostly difensively and Fiorentina couldn't push as they would have wanted.

didn't see Bayern-Zenit but it's surprising how Die Roten can shoot theirself in the foot.

[arwebb]

Decent result for Rangers, and Fiorentina should be very wary on Thursday night. Much as I fear Rangers' heavy recent schedule may count against them in the end, I still would not be surprised to see them get through to the final.

[arwebb]

And lo and behold, the Glaswegian invasion of Manchester is on. Tremendous result for Scottish football and I did find it slightly amusing to hear Fiorentina whinging about negative tactics.

[faster]

[RobH]

Great result for Rangers who could really have a season to remember if everything goes their way. Was hoping Spurs could get to the final under Juande, but since that dream ended a while ago I want to see Rangers grab the trophy now.

[RobH]

Wow, I've just read this in the paper this morning.

Quote

Zenit fans are racist, admits Dick Advocaat

As 10,000 Zenit St Petersburg fans prepare to head to Manchester for the Uefa Cup final against Rangers on Wednesday week, the club's manager has accused supporters of racism.

Up to 10,000 Zenit fans are set to apply for visas for the final in the City of Manchester Stadium on May 14, with the British consulate in St Petersburg making clear they will streamline red tape to enable fans to travel without problems.

But Dick Advocaat has revealed in a Russian interview that he was unable to recruit Brazilian players because the first question Zenit fans asked when a signing was imminent was: "Is he black?"

The former Holland boss added that he would have to ask his fan's permission before buying a black player - and that they were unlikely to give it.

"I would be happy to sign anyone, but the fans don't like black players," he revealed. "Quite honestly, I do not understand how they could pay so much attention to skin colour.

"Frankly, the only players who can make Zenit stronger are dark skinned. But for us it would be impossible."

Zenit, whose No 1 fan is President elect Dmitry Medvedev, who takes office in the Kremlin on Wednesday, are the only club in Russia not to have had a black player.

When Advocaat, a former Rangers manager, tried to sign Frenchman Mathieu Valbuena recently, the first question on fans websites was: "Is he a negro?"

The manager said: "The fans are the most important thing that Zenit have. That's why I have to ask them outright how they'll react if we sign a dark skinned player for Zenit.

"At least two times a year we meet with the fans. I hope we'll have an opportunity to talk to them about this racist issue soon.

Zenit supporters have been accused of racism several times in recent months.

In March some of Olympique Marseille's black players complained that Zenit fans made monkey noises and hurled banana skins at them during their Uefa Cup tie.

In November, Cameroon midfielder Serge Branco, who played in the Russian League for Krylia Sovetov Samara last year, said: "Each time I play in St Petersburg I have to listen to racist insults from the stands.

"Zenit bosses do not do anything about it which makes me think they are racists too."

Link

[james]

Rob ♪, on May 3 2008, 05:56 AM, said:

Wow, I've just read this in the paper this morning.
Link

We know Russians very well in Africa that they are racists so, it's not a new thing to we black Africans. I only laugh at them cos they are taking the role of Richie(Who almost eliminated them in WW II). And, this also explains the level of their thinking.

Russian is the last place I will ever like to go for the rest of my life.I want to quickly say here that,I wonder what Gazprom is looking for in Nigeria. I hope the Nigerian government wouldn't give them the chance to invest in the gas sector when better nations like USA, England,France, Japan,China,etc are there to do something good.

truely, I have never admire a Russian for once cos of their views about less important thing like skin color, views on military force, communism, and the worst they seem to claim Orthodox christianity and muslim. There's another thing about themn they want others to view them as gods---What a bullshit!

If they don't want blacks in their team it ok and they can go to hell with that cos they aren't GOD who is immortal. I don't know why I am defending my colour here but Russians are just too notorious about skin colour. Maybe they are just too jealous about blackman skin that can adapt to any environment.LOL!

For some reason Zenit might probably loose the match, and when they do, it going to be shame on them!

[Rei]

Hahahah and to think that most taken almost for sure a Bayern-Fiorentina final (as far as it would have sounded better for publicity) and whereas.. Zenit and Rangers to Manchester!

btw what an amazing Catenaccio by the annoying scottish.. worthy of the oldest italian school, really (just imagine how the commnets would be changed in negative if we were talking about an italian team ).

Bad luck and uncalculated number of lost shots did the rest. Unfair result for the talented Fiorentina anyway.