Zenit fans against black players

(CNN) -- A group of fans who support Russian soccer giant Zenit St Petersburg has unveiled a manifesto urging the club not to sign black players.

The Landscrona group posted the "Selection 12 manifesto" on its website Monday, prompting the club to issue its own statement to CNN emphasizing its policy of diversity and tolerance.

Zenit spent a reported $103 million on black players Hulk, from Brazil, and Belgium international Axel Witsel in September.

The Brazilian striker's arrival has caused problems within the squad, with Zenit captain Igor Denisov dropped to the reserve team after complaining about Hulk's arrival and the wages he commands.

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In a detailed letter on its website, Landscrona stated their opposition to Zenit signing any players who are black or gay.

"We're not racists but we see the absence of black players at Zenit as an important tradition." the letter said. "We are against representatives of sexual minorities playing for Zenit.

"For us it is crucial (Zenit) has retained its own identity, and not turned into an average European team, with a standard set of foreign players.

"We only want players from other brotherly Slav nations, such as Ukraine and Belarus as well as from the Baltic states and Scandinavia. We have the same mentality and historical and cultural background as these nations.

"Any other continents except Europe, should not be a priority for (Zenit). This does not mean that it is a taboo. But flying to Latin America only makes sense if we honestly and professionally tried everything possible to find a player in the region, Russia and Europe."

Russian soccer has been troubled by incidents of racism in recent years, with former Brazil player Roberto Carlos being abused while playing for Anzhi Makhachkala. The defender asked to be substituted in a game in 2011 after picking up a banana that was thrown at him from the stands.

The media attention given to Landscrona's letter comes as Russia continues its preparations to host the 2018 World Cup.

Zenit responded with a statement, sent to CNN World Sport, stating the club does not "support archaic values."

It read: "FC Zenit has always been distinguished by its tolerant approach to players of various nationalities and confessions, and has always had diversity in its side.

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"Furthermore, our club has millions of fans from all continents of the world. St. Petersburg is an open city which historically has united various cultures.

"Zenit invites players to the team exclusively thanks to their sporting qualities and achievements, not based on their nationality or skin color. The club's policy is aimed at development and integration into the world football community. We do not support archaic values.

"We continue to be sure that fighting all manifestations of intolerance is the only principle for development of our club, football, and sports as a whole in the world."

It is the latest racism controversy to blight European football in recent months.

Italian club Lazio was fined $52,000 by UEFA following racist chanting by its supporters during the Europa League fixture with Tottenham in September.

The Serbian Football Association was fined $105,000 following an Under-21 match in which opposing players from the England team said they were racially abused.

Meanwhile, In the English Premier League West Ham vowed to ban for life any fans found guilty of anti-Semitic chanting during their match at Tottenham in November.

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