BURNLEY defender Andre Bikey believes FIFA have made the wrong decision by awarding the World Cup to Russia – and says he would have to think carefully about whether to travel if he was still part of the Cameroon squad in 2018.

Bikey spent two years playing club football in Russia but suffered problems with racism in the country – an issue that was raised a concern by many before the country was awarded the 2018 World Cup ahead of England on Thursday.

The 25-year-old, who moved on to Reading and then Burnley, thinks England would have been a better choice as hosts and is so concerned about going back to Russia that he would consider pulling out of the 2018 World Cup if Cameroon qualified and he was still involved with the squad.

Bikey moved to Shinnik Yaroslavl in 2005 before having a longer spell with Lokomotiv Moscow, the club that was at a centre of a racism row earlier this year after Nigerian striker Peter Odemwingie was upset by a banner celebrating his sale to West Bromwich Albion.

Asked his views on the deicision to give Russia the World Cup, Bikey said: “I was surprised because England had a very strong bid and with Russia, there are things that need to change before 2018.

“The World Cup is supposed to bring people from different countries and different cultures together, and FIFA will have to work hard to make sure this can happen in Russia.

“There was racism towards black players in the stadiums, but I was physically attacked in the street more than once.

“If someone attacked me in the street I could defend myself, but I had to take action when people were attacking me when I was with my wife and my mother. I had to buy a gun to protect my family.

“Life can be difficult for a black person in Russia. I hope things have changed, but I know some of the players still have problems with racism.

“I don’t know if I could go back for the World Cup – I would need to know it was safe.

“I have been much happier in England. Here I can live beside someone from another country and there is no problem. People respect each other more in England.”

The 1980 Olympics in Moscow was hit by a boycott when several countries withdrew in protest at the Soviets’ invasion of Afghanistan in 1979.