The footballers of the Valencia CF left the field of the Ramón de Carranza Stadium in Cádiz shortly after half an hour of play after the French defender Mouctar Diakhaby received racist insults from a rival, as reported by the Levantine club on its Twitter account.
The game resumed about 10 minutes later as both teams decided to return to the field, although the alleged victim, Diakhaby, remained in the locker room and was replaced by Hugo Guillamón.
“The team has met and decides to return to fight for the shield, but firmly in condemning racism throughout Valencia in all its forms. No racism,” the Valencian club said in a first tweet.
(Also read: Fredy Guarín breaks the silence and talks about his situation)
“The player, who has received a racist insult, has asked his teammates to return to the field to fight. All with you, Mouctar,” Valencia added later in another post.
Valencia released a statement hours later in which, in addition to showing its “disappointment” at the referee’s failure to make a decision, it confirmed the threats received about losing the game by not playing again, which the captain had already pointed out. José Luis Gayá and coach Javi Gracia.
“The referee explains to the players the possible consequences of not returning to the field of play. The players, forced to play under threat of a penalty kick after the racist insults and the yellow card for Diakhaby, decide to return to the field of play, “denounced the entity.
The events took place shortly after half an hour of play when Diakhaby suddenly dropped out of the game to face Cádiz player Juan Cala. The two players started arguing and later the Frenchman told the referee that he would be leaving the field of play, a decision also made by his teammates.
Referee David Medié Jiménez specified in the arbitration deed that Diakhaby said to him: “He called me ‘black shit'”.
(In addition: Dávinson Sánchez, victim of racist reports in England)
Cadiz coach Álvaro Cervera said after the game that “Cala says he never offended the player. He’s my player, I have to believe it.”
The Andalusian club also published a statement in which, without making specific reference to Cala, it assures: “We have no doubts about the fairness of all members of our squad.”
The incident even reached political realm. “Equality and rejection of racism. That is the main party. A hug to Diakhaby. This is his home, his country,” wrote the president of the Valencian government Ximo Puig on Twitter.
The stoppage of this game from the 29th day of La Liga, which was 1-1 on the scoreboard, right with Cala as Cadista scorer, resumed 10 minutes later to play the last eight minutes of the first half, although Diakhaby no longer jumped to court. Yes, Juan Cala, although he was also substituted at half-time.
The two involved in the incident then settled in the stands to watch the second half of a match that ended with a 2-1 local victory.
This incident is reminiscent of Moussa Marega’s in February 2020: Porto’s French striker reported having suffered racist insults from a Guimaraes rival and decided to leave the field, although his teammates did not support him on that occasion and stayed on the field .
It is the first time in Spain that a match has been interrupted by the players’ decision, although it is not the first time that racist incidents have been recorded.
Following a complaint by LaLiga, an investigation was opened against two Espanyol de Barcelona fans who made racist insults and imitated the gestures of a monkey when they met Athletic striker Iñaki Williams.
(In other news: James, it’s time for you: ready to go back!)
On December 8, all Turkish Basaksehir players left the field after one of the fourth official, Romanian Sebastian Coltescu, Pierre Achille Webo, a member of the Turkish team’s technical staff, reportedly called “black”.
The Paris SG players also left the Parc des Princes pitch in a gesture of support for Webo, in a match that coincided with the Champions League group stage, which resumed a day later. UEFA decided to suspend Coltescu for the rest of the season.
SPORT
With AFP
More sports news
– Harsh criticism of ‘Juanfer’ Quintero on former footballers for the Guarín case
– Gamero asks Guarín for ‘strength and will’
– Violent assault by hooded men on the Patriots bus