FIFA Asked to Investigate Racial Taunts Directed at Paul Pogba, Ousmane Dembele

Piara Powar, head of Football Against Racism in Europe (FARE), called on FIFA to investigate racial abuse directed at France stars Paul Pogba and Ousmane Dembele during their 3-1 win over World Cup hosts Russia on Tuesday.

According to the Associated Press (h/t ESPN's Ian Holyman) Powar spoke on Wednesday after a photographer for Agence France-Presse confirmed Dembele and Pogba were targeted with monkey chants, the former during two corners and the latter in the 73rd minute:

"There should be enough there for FIFA to initiate proceedings. If photographers heard it pitchside, then there must have been stewards and other officials who also heard it.

"If, toward the end of March, these guys don't know what to do, and they're not initiating procedures and protocols that exist, then that doesn't bode very well for the World Cup.

"So close to the World Cup, questions are being asked as to why it wasn't dealt with as it occurred during play."

In the 2016-17 campaign, FARE recorded 89 racist and right-wing extremist-linked incidents in the Russian Premier League, and this season there have been two prior cases of racism at the St Petersburg Stadium where Tuesday's friendly was held. The ground will also host one of the semi-finals of this year's World Cup.

Zenit St Petersburg fans displayed a banner in support of war criminal Ratko Mladic during their clash with Macedonian outfit FK Vardar in the UEFA Europa League in November. Fans also allegedly racially abused an injured player in their match against RB Leipzig earlier in March, with UEFA set to hear the case on May 31.

Sky Sports' Kaveh Solhekol noted the prevalence of racist incidents in Russia:

France's Minister for Sport, Laura Flessel, called for action to be taken on Twitter:

According to Holyman, she wrote: "Racism has no place on football pitches. We have to act in unison at a European and international level in order to stop this inadmissible behaviour."

Spartak Moscow have also been sanctioned this season because of racial abuse directed by supporters at Liverpool's Bobby Adekanye in the UEFA Youth League, and the club also found themselves in hot water with FARE after tweeting a video that made racially insulted their own players.

Spartak under-19 defender Leonid Mironov was also charged by UEFA after allegedly abusing Liverpool striker Rhian Brewster in the second match between the sides, but the investigation was dropped by Europe's governing body after they failed to find conclusive evidence in the matter.

This latest problem yet again calls into question the suitability of Russia as hosts for football's biggest tournament, just months before it is set to begin.