Sexism a bigger issue than racism at World Cup

MOSCOW: Anti-discrimination experts said with some surprise that sexism has been a bigger problem than racism at the World Cup. 

The director of a group called the Fare network that helps FIFA tackle discrimination says 30 cases of "sexism on the streets" by male fans were reported. Fare director Piara Powar says about half of those involved female broadcasters being "accosted while on air."

He estimates "there's many, many more unreported" cases where Russian women were targeted.

Racism had been predicted as a likely problem because of longstanding issues in Russian soccer and among some other European fan bases. FIFA imposed fines during the tournament on soccer federations including Serbia, Russia and Poland for racist, nationalist and offensive banners spotted at games.

Powar says the World Cup's international audience is "very different to the fans that come to domestic football." He suggests "if you come to this tournament with prejudices, and don't like people from a different nationality, then generally you're in the wrong place."