DOHA, Qatar - FIFA anti-racism adviser Tokyo Sexwale believes black players could boycott the 2018 World Cup and urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to demand tougher action against racism in football.Sexwale, who was an anti-apartheid campaigner and former political prisoner on Robben Island, is against a boycott but expressed concern in an interview with The Associated Press about the growing number of racist incidents in the Russian league.There is a threat black players will say they are not going to Russia (for the World Cup) — we cant have that, Sexwale said Tuesday on the sidelines of the Doha Goals conference. I am talking as a FIFA person and a citizen of the world — it cant go that far. ... Once these things start and you dont act as leaders, these things snowball.Although UEFA has punished Russian clubs for racism at Champions League matches in recent years, the national federation has appeared less willing to tackle abuse.Sexwale is urging his personal friend Putin to intervene.Show that leadership, be the Putin the world knows, be tough, said Sexwale, a former South African government minister who is an adviser to FIFAs anti-racism task force. Failure to do so, we could be talking something different about the 2018 World Cup ... you will have people saying they will not go to Russia.The Russian Football Union has been criticized for taking no action against FC Rostov coach Igor Gamula for saying last week he wouldnt sign a defender from Cameroon because the club has enough dark-skinned players, weve got six of the things. Gamula apologized after the agent of Rostov defender Siyanda Xulu, a South Africa international, said that five African players on the team threatened to sit out Mondays training.Sexwale said an apology alone wasnt enough, pointing to how the NBA forced Donald Sterling to sell the Los Angeles Clippers and banned him for life over racism.South African Football Association president Danny Jordaan wrote to FIFA President Sepp Blatter on Monday expressing concerns, according to Sexwale.For the Russian federation to be seen to be serious we need them to take stern action. The world took stern action against South Africa (over apartheid), it was expelled from FIFA, Sexwale said, stopping short of calling for Russia to face the same sanction.CSKA Moscow has been forced to play Champions League games without fans this season because of fan abuse toward black players, although Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko maintained last month that Russia has no major racism problem, saying: I dont know what there is to be frightened.But Sexwale said of Moscow: There are certain parts if you are my colour its unsafe ... people are scared of going to Moscow.Sexwale wrote to South Africas ambassador to Moscow on Monday to caution that this is very dangerous.If these ultra-ring elements have their way they are threatening the World Cup, Sexwale said. The authorities have got to come down on the perpetrators, otherwise the authority is now going to be boycotted by the victim because people will lose confidence in the Russian federation.Claudio Sulser, the head of FIFAs disciplinary committee, said in Doha that the organization would deal with any racism at the World Cup.Its very critical, Sulser said. This is a problem of the society.___Rob Harris can be followed at www.twitter.com/RobHarris
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Ryan Quigley Jersey . The CFL club is making the move after holding its camp and regular-season practices at the University of Toronto campus in Mississauga, Ont. KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Brad Miller stepped to the plate against one of baseballs best closers in the ninth inning of a tied game, a sellout crowd rooting for him to fail. Miller silenced them all with one swing of the bat. The Seattle shortstop pounded a pitch from the Royals Greg Holland just inside the right-field foul pole, his homer breaking a 5-all tie and helping the Mariners to a 7-5 victory Friday night. "That was honestly one of the best baseball games Ive been a part of," Miller said with a grin. "Theyre one of the hottest teams in baseball and I was pumped." Logan Morrison drove in another run later in the ninth to provide some breathing room. "What a swing by Miller. Oh my goodness," he said. "He crushed it." Charlie Furbush (1-4) inherited a bases-loaded, one-out jam in the eighth, but the Mariners reliever calmly retired Mike Moustakas on a lazy popup to shallow right field. Furbush then struck out Alcides Escobar to silence a crowd of 38,475 and keep the game tied. After Holland (0-2) coughed up the lead, Fernando Rodney allowed two singles in the ninth for Seattle. But the veteran closer bounced back to retire pinch-hitter Nori Aoki on a groundout, and then he struck out Alex Gordon on three pitches to earn his 19th save. "They are big league baseball players. Big league ballplayers dont miss mistakes too often," Holland said. "I got up on (Miller) two strikes and didnt get the slider where I wanted. I made a mistake. Sometimes you pay for them and I did tonight." Morrison added a two-run homer for Seattle, which overcame a subpar start from Hisashi Iwakuma to end the Royals five-game winning streak at Kauffman Stadium. Mike Zunino added a solo shot and Robinson Cano drove in two runs, extending his hitting streak to 21 games. Moustakas hit a two-run shot to lead the Royals, who have dropped two in a row after winning 10 straight. Salvador Perez homered and drove in two runs for Kansas City. "Listen, we ran into a buzz saw. These guys are hot and everythiing is going for them," Mariners manager Lloyd McClendon said.dddddddddddd "When you run into teams like that you have to play extremely well." Iwakuma went eight shutout innings in each of his two starts against Kansas City this season, and the right-hander was headed that way again with four scoreless frames to start the game. Along the way, Iwakuma struck out the side in the first inning on just 12 pitches. Meanwhile, his offence was staking him to a 5-0 lead. Cano, who has dominated James Shields throughout his career, drove in a run off him in the first inning and another during a three-run fifth that was capped by Morrisons homer. Zuninos solo shot came in the fourth inning, a no-doubt rocket over the bullpen in left. The Royals finally broke through when Perez homered on a meaty 0-2 pitch in the fifth. They didnt stop there, either. Lorenzo Cain followed with a double, and Moustakas belted his eighth homer of the season over the wall in right to trim the Royals deficit to 5-3. Iwakuma escaped the inning, but he quickly ran into more trouble in the sixth. Consecutive singles by Billy Butler and Gordon knocked him from the game, and reliever Dominic Leone gave up the lead when Perez hit an RBI single and Moustakas an RBI groundout to make it 5-all. Iwakuma allowed nine hits and a walk in five-plus innings. It was his shortest start since July 9, 2013, when he allowed six runs and eight hits in three innings against the Red Sox. Shields went seven innings and still has not lost since May 2, a span of nine starts. "It was a great to see the crowd come out, obviously a sellout. We love it when the fans come out," Shields said of the rare packed house. "We didnt get a win for them tonight, but hopefully they keep coming out and well get some wins here." NOTES: Royals right-handed batters were 0 for 23 against Iwakuma this season before Butlers single in the second. Butler had three hits. ... Gordon returned after missing a game to illness. ... Mariners RHP Chris Young faces Royals LHP Jason Vargas on Saturday.
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