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Yaya Toure meets Fifa anti-racism chief after City defeat

POST-MATCH MEETING: Yaya Toure met Fifa's Jeffrey Webb following Manchester City's 2-1 loss against Chelsea (PA)

MANCHESTER CITY midfielder Yaya Toure had talks with Fifa’s Jeffrey Webb about his experience in Russia last week when CSKA Moscow were alleged to have racially abused him.

The 30-year-old Ivory Coast international met the anti-racism task force boss following City’s 2-1 defeat to Chelsea at Stamford Bridge yesterday (October 27).

Webb’s spokeswoman told BBC Sport that the pair had a “good conversation”.

Speaking before the Premier League kick-off in west London, the 49-year-old senior Fifa chief, who is widely tipped to succeed Sepp Blatter as president, said: “I'm here really out of respect to what [Toure] has endured and to find out what has transpired”.

Webb backed Blatter’s call for stronger action than fines and closing sections of stadiums of teams that have fans found guilty of racism.

In a speech given at a FA dinner celebrating its 150th anniversary, the Fifa president said teams must be “eliminated” from tournaments if they cannot stop supports from racially abusing players on the pitch.

Webb said: “I agree completely but we must create a process.

“There's always two sides and then of course we've created legislation and the whole world has adopted it. The whole 209 members of Fifa have accepted it. Uefa has implemented legislation as well.

“And now, I agree with him completely, the time for fines and closures is over.

“Now we must allow the allow the legal experts, the disciplinary committees and the various appeal processes to take place.”

He added: “But they must take the lead on this, they must be strong and make strong decisions in the best interests of the game.

“We've done our part, we've done the legislation. Now the task force is focusing on education, now focusing on providing material for our member associations to create and expose the diversity there needs to be.”

Speaking further about what Russian football authorities need to do to ensure there is no prospect of black players boycotting the 2018 World Cup, an idea suggested by Toure, Webb said: “The main message [to Russia] must be that they embrace diversity. They are going to host the world, they are going to welcome the entire world there.

“We do believe that Fifa and the Russian authorities, the local organising committee, will put things in place. In four and a half years we hope that Russia will welcome the world.”

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