Zenit St. Petersburg supporters group Landscrona has issued a manifesto that it calls 'Selection 12'.
The manifesto decries the path which modern football and Zenit is taking and instead wants to club to remain true to it's roots.
We do not want to be another beautiful and perhaps even profitable football project
In September, the club made two major signings. Axel Witsel and Hulk, both of whom are black, for a combined fee of €78m.
They believe that the club should prioritise four areas from which to source players. St. Petersburg and the Leningrad region, North-West region and Central Russia, the rest of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, the Slavic countries, the Baltic States and Scandinavia and the rest of Europe.
Not on this list are Africa, South America, Australia and Oceania. Landscrona do not want the club to sign any black players, not because they are racist, of course, but because the lack of black players at Zenit in the past, they believe, is an important tradition.
We are not racists, and for us, the lack of black players in the "Zenith" is only important tradition, which emphasizes the identity of the club and nothing more. Due to its preservation, "Zenith" in the world of football has its own identity, along with counts the number of football clubs have retained their identity.
Tradition is not the only thing that black players have going against them according to Landscrona. Apparently they cannot handle the tough Russian winter, which would prevent them from reaching their potential as players.
In addition, most of the championship takes place at a sufficiently severe weather. In these circumstances, technically players from warmer climates can be difficult to fully disclose his football talent.
Sexual minorities, oh for example says homosexuals, are also not welcome in the Zenit squad.
We stand against the representatives of sexual minorities playing for Zenit.
They also appear to disapprove of the signings of Santi Cazorla and Gareth Bale.
No - simulations! Only an honest victory
The football club has moved swiftly to distance itself from the manifesto.
Zenit football club have always been tolerant, bringing together players of different nationalities and faiths. Moreover, our club has millions of fans from all over the world. And Saint Petersburg is an open city, which historically unites different cultures. We want to remind everybody that the players are invited to our team, not on the basis of ethnicity or race, but only because of their athletic abilities and achievements.
