The coach of the Russian Premier League team FC Rostov says he will not sign black players and expressed fears that Ebola could spread to the club.

Igor Gamula told local media the club had “enough dark-skinned players. We’ve got six of the things,” when asked on Friday about rumours Rostov would sign Cameroon defender Benoît Angbwa.

Gamula also said that five of his Russian players were ill and “I’m already worrying it’s Ebola”.

Rostov midfielder Moussa Doumbia is from Mali, which has seen sporadic Ebola cases, but there is no suggestion he is infected. Indeed Doumbia played for Rostov in Friday’s 1-0 win over Ural Yekaterinburg.

Gamula, 54, took over in September at Rostov, who won the Russian Cup last season and played in this season’s Europa League.