Hulk hears racist taunts

Russia’s Sport Express newspaper is reporting that Brazilian striker Hulk was subjected to racist taunts when he was playing for Zenit St Petersburg against Spartak Moscow at the weekend.

The newspaper quoted the Russian football federation’s disciplinary commission chief Artur Grigoryants as saying an investigation was underway after a match delegate noted two incidents of monkey chanting aimed at Hulk during Saturday’s 0-0 draw.

Hulk, who signed for Zenit in 2012, told Russian media he heard monkey chants from “a large group of people”, which he took to be “a personal insult”.

On Saturday, the Russian federation banned Congolese defender Christopher Samba for two games for making an indecent hand gesture to Torpedo Moscow fans who he said had racially abused him. (AP)