Fifa’s anti-racism adviser Tokyo Sexwale wants a tougher stance on racism before the 2018 World Cup in Russia or black players could boycott the tournament, he said on Tuesday.

Earlier on in the day, Fifa’s disciplinary chairman Claudio Sulser confirmed that the host nation would be punished should any acts of racism be aimed towards those participating.

And with the increase of racist incidents in the Russian League and in the Champions League involving sides from Russia — CSKA Moscow had to play Manchester City behind closed doors following past racist behaviour from fans — Sexwale is concerned that black players will refuse to take part. 

“There is a threat black players will say they are not going to Russia (for the World Cup) — we can’t have that,” Sexwale said on Tuesday. “I am talking as a Fifa person and a citizen of the world — it can’t go that far. Once these things start and you don’t act as leaders, these things snowball.”

Last week, the Russian Football Union failed to take action against FC Rostov coach Igor Gamula for his comments regarding signing a defender from Cameroon in which he said he had “enough dark-skinned players, we’ve got six of the things.”

While Gamula later apologised for his comments, Sexwale said an apology was not enough and referred back to the National Basketball Association and how they handled the Donald Sterling incident, in which he was forced to sell NBA franchise Los Angeles Clippers and was banned for life after a racist comment earlier this year.

Sexwale also confirmed that South African FA president Danny Jordaan wrote to Fifa president Sepp Blatter on Monday to express his concerns regarding the ongoing situation in Russia.

“For the Russian federation to be seen to be serious we need them to take stern action. The world took stern action against South Africa (over apartheid), it was expelled from Fifa,” Sexwale said, though he did not call for the hosts to receive the same punishment.

Despite Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko denying any problems in Russia regarding racism in football, saying: “I don’t know what there is to be frightened of,” Sexwale warned South Africa’s ambassador that “there are certain parts if you are my colour it’s unsafe. People are scared of going to Moscow.”