SAINT PETERSBURG -- Russia's deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko has said he "does not see big problems here" after backing FIFA's decision to impose its three-step anti-discrimination regulations on the Confederations Cup, which begins on Saturday.
The regulations give a match referee the ability to take the players off the pitch and abandon a match if spectators fail to heed warnings over racist or anti-gay chanting.
They will cover each of the games during the two-week tournament.
Russia has been at the centre of high-profile incidents of racist chanting in recent seasons, and anti-discrimination monitoring group FARE reported 89 incidents of racist or far right chanting at Russian games last season.
But Mutko, speaking at a FIFA news conference in Saint Petersburg, said the country was dealing with the problem and fully supported the strict measures.
"These figures [reported by FARE] are telling us that this problem is no longer systematic in Russia because the authorities have taken a number of measures," he said.
"Our requirements are stricter, but we are an open democratic state with a lot of foreign players and we do not see big problems here.
"This is a problem which is not purely Russian, it happens everywhere in the world. But FIFA is fighting this phenomenon and, in our joint efforts, we will fight it.
"We have been very strict about anti-discrimination. There is a zero-tolerance policy. If it doesn't work, we have to take it further.
"So we are grateful to FIFA and we welcome this decision and that the system will be strict. It is a challenge for us in Russia and I think it is a perfect solution."
FIFA general secretary Fatma Samoura said the move to introduce the three-step system was a key stepping stone to eradicating discriminatory behaviour inside football stadiums.
"We will be deploying trained observers who will be responsible for monitoring discrimination," Samoura said.
"We have a three-step system. It is a serious issue and we must show no tolerance. It is the first tournament in Russia and a crucial step on the way to the World Cup."
Russia will get an opportunity to showcase the new stadiums and infrastructure put in place for the World Cup during the Confederations Cup, which will also see games staged in Moscow, Kazan and Sochi.
And Mutko said: "We are absolutely ready. Hotels, transportation, hubs, everything is working and we have taken every possible measure to ensure safety and security.
"There is also a visa-free operation for those with tickets for the World Cup and Confederations Cup, so fans coming to Russia with tickets don't need a visa.
"There are specialised trains from one town to another, which will be free of charge to fans and ticket-holders.
"When the tournament kicks off, the interest will increase and of course the focus will be on the Russia national team."