Russia to hold anti-racism summit over 2018 World Cup fears

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia is planning an international anti-racism summit this year to try and get on top of the problem before hosting the 2018 World Cup.

The conference is a response to a report which detailed more than 200 cases of discriminatory behavior linked to Russian soccer over two seasons, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko told Russian media.

Mutko said the conference would be held jointly with one of the two organizations behind that report, the UK-based Fare network.

"We'll be holding a congress together with this organization in Russia. Let them appear and talk about the problems of racism that they see in Russian sport," he was quoted as saying by the R-Sport agency.

However, Fare head Piara Powar told The Associated Press his organization had yet to confirm its participation following an approach from the Russian Football Union for an event that would be held either this month or next.

Powar said Russia was "free to do an event," but that talk of a partnership with Fare was "very premature," especially given that the event had been offered at short notice.

He added: "A quick event like this can only work if there are some clear outcomes, and some planning that involves the whole of Russian football to deal with the issues that they have in terms of discrimination and exclusion."