11 December,2010 09:35 AM IST | | Agencies
West Brom striker Peter Odemwingie believes the problem of racism in Russian football is getting worse.
The 29-year-old Nigeria international was on the receiving end of such treatment during his time with Lokomotiv Moscow before making the move to the Hawthorns during the summer, at which point Lokomotiv fans displayed a banner depicting a banana with the message: "Thank you West Brom."
Russia is to host the World Cup for the first time in 2018 after FIFA controversially chose them as hosts ahead of England.
And Odemwingie, who spent three years playing in the Russian Premier Liga, feels racism is an issue, which is not going away.
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"There was a group of boys with their own agenda which has nothing to do with football in my opinion," he said in an interview to be broadcast tomorrow on Football Focus.
"In a few stadiums it's present, it's obvious, you cannot pretend that you don't see it.
"From Lokomotiv I was a little bit surprised. Now I am hearing what is going on there, some of the banners, some shout outs, it's more about nationalism and stuff like that.
"I cannot say I'm happy that I left in a good moment but since I left things got a little bit worse."
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