Chris Coleman: ‘Boot out racist fans’

Chris Coleman hopes Ukraine have rooted out any of their racist fans ahead of Wales’ visit tonight.

Fifa had already ordered Ukraine to play their opening 2018 World Cup qualifier against Iceland in September behind closed doors before Uefa also hit their fans with a one-game ban following racist behaviour and the use of laser pointers and illicit banners when they met Spain last October.

Dynamo Kiev were forced to play two Champions League games behind closed doors this season because of racist behaviour and crowd disturbances from their supporters when they faced Chelsea.

Ukraine fans will be in the spotlight again when Wales’ black players Ashley Williams and Jazz Richards — as well as Neil Taylor, who has an Asian heritage — are all expected to play some part at Kiev’s Olympic Stadium.

“It is sad that it is 2016 and we are talking about a nation being made to play a game behind closed doors because of idiots,” said Wales manager Coleman.

“The only way to get rid of them is obvious. Every ground has CCTV and if anyone is seen behaving like that then they should be banned for life. See you later, end of story. That should go for every football ground in every country.

“I do not have an answer to this question, but why has that not happened already?

“There must be footage of people racially abusing players. Just get them out and ban them for life.

“It is very simple. There is no room for it in our game and it is sad what has happened out there.

“The thing is if it happens, as it has in Ukraine, everyone generalises and says the country is racist.

“That is not the case — it is just some idiots who behave like that and it is a great shame.”

Wales expect a hostile environment at the 70,000- capacity Olympic Stadium, but Coleman says the “edgy” atmosphere will stand his players in good stead ahead of Euro 2016.

Key duo Gareth Bale and Aaron Ramsey are again absent and Wales missed their creativity and flair in Thursday’s 1-1 home draw with Northern Ireland in Cardiff.

The pair scored nine of Wales’ 11 goals in Euro qualifying — Bale with seven of them and Ramsey two — and the Dragons had to rely on a last-minute Simon Church penalty to secure a face-saving draw against Michael O’Neill’s men. “We could maybe do with scoring more goals,” said Coleman.