FIFA has opened an investigation after France national soccer team players were racially abused by fans in Russia, less than three months before the country hosts the World Cup.

Monkey chants could be heard from the crowd in St. Petersburg on Tuesday when black French players touched the ball in a friendly against Russia. The abuse was also audible on a TV broadcast after Paul Pogba scored France鈥檚 second goal in a 3-1 win.

FIFA said Wednesday in a statement it was collecting evidence and would contact the anti-discrimination Fare Network, which helps world soccer鈥檚 governing body investigate racism cases.

鈥淔IFA is collecting the different match reports and potential evidence in regards to the discriminatory incident reported in the media,鈥� FIFA said in a statement. 鈥淯ntil we have evaluated all information available, we cannot comment further.鈥�

French Sports Minister Laura Flessel also called for action.

鈥淩acism has no place on the soccer field,鈥� Flessel wrote on Twitter alongside a picture of the French team. 鈥淲e should act together at a European and international level in order to stop this intolerable behaviour.鈥�

Flessel didn鈥檛 comment directly on the chants at Tuesday鈥檚 game.

Fare said the incidents in St. Petersburg highlight shortcomings in how Russia has prepared for the World Cup.

鈥淚f photographers heard it pitch-side, then there must have been stewards and other officials who also heard it,鈥� Fare Network executive director Piara Powar said. 鈥淚f, toward the end of March, these guys don鈥檛 know what to do, and they鈥檙e not initiating procedures and protocols that exist, then that doesn鈥檛 bode very well for the World Cup.

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鈥淪o close to the World Cup, questions are being asked as to why it wasn鈥檛 dealt with as it occurred during play.鈥�

It鈥檚 the third racism case this season at St. Petersburg Stadium, which will host a World Cup semifinal match. Zenit St. Petersburg has twice faced UEFA charges for racism by its fans in Europa League games.

Zenit fans flew a banner praising convicted war criminal Ratko Mladic when playing a Macedonian club in November and are accused of using a racially charged term to mock an injured black player in a game against Leipzig. The second case is due to be heard by UEFA on May 31, two weeks before the World Cup begins.

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Ellingworth reported from Moscow. AP Sports Writer Graham Dunbar in Geneva contributed to this report.

Dmitri Lovetsky And James Ellingworth, The Associated Press

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