Friday 13 March 2015 17:28, UK
Russia is planning an international anti-racism summit this year to address the problem before hosting the 2018 World Cup.
The conference follows a report which detailed more than 200 cases of discriminatory behaviour in Russian football in the past two seasons.
Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said the event would be held jointly with UK-based campaign group the FARE network, who co-wrote the report.
But Piara Powar, the head of FARE, insisted it had yet to confirm its participation after an approach from the Russian Football Union.
Powar said Russia was "free to do an event," but that talk of a partnership with FARE was "very premature."
Recent racist abuse suffered by players in the country include Manchester City’s Yaya Toure suffering monkey chants during the Champions League tie with CSKA Moscow in October 2013.
UEFA ordered the partial closure of CSKA’s stadium for one Champions League game as punishment.
