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Spartak Moscow slammed for racist tweet in wake of Liverpool charges

REUTERS/Srdjan Zivulovic

Spartak Moscow is facing intense backlash after posting a video of three of its black players with a message that read: "See how the chocolates melt in the sun."

It's the latest incident in which Spartak has attracted negative attention, after complaints were filed by Liverpool over the racist abuse to which youth players were subjected during UEFA Youth League matches earlier this season.

The tweet has been criticised by the chief of anti-discriminatory organization FARE, Piara Powar, who said the Russian club "shows a shocking level of ignorance."

"Racism is one of the biggest issues Russia faces in the year they host the World Cup," Powar said, according to BBC Sport. "References like this show how some minorities are seen by some in the country."

"For Russia's biggest club to tolerate and then celebrate racist references of this kind is wrong.

"They were sanctioned for Islamophobic chanting recently but clearly the message has not reached the players or the club management."

The tweet has since been deleted, but BBC Sport captured a screenshot with the translated racist reference:

Along with being charged for the alleged racist abuse of Liverpool defender Bobby Adekanye by the club's supporters, UEFA also charged Spartak defender Leonid Mironov with racially abusing Reds forward Rhian Brewster in December.

The latest incident comes just months before Russia hosts the 2018 World Cup.

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