Christopher Samba banned after responding to racist abuse

Dynamo Moscow defender Christopher Samba has been banned for two matches after responding to racist abuse in a match against Torpedo Moscow.

The centre-half stuck his middle finger up to Torpedo fans before being substituted at half time, a decision which the Russian Football Union claimed that left them with little option but to ban the Congolese.

Artur Grigoryants, head of the disciplinary committee, told reporters: "We took into account what happened on the pitch and that he was provoked. Therefore we decided to give the lightest possible punishment."

Torpedo, meanwhile, will have their stadium partially closed for their next game as punishment for the abuse.