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By Reuters 
4h ago
PARIS – Istanbul Basaksehir players, closely followed by their opponent Paris St Germain, walked off the pitch during a Champions League soccer match on Tuesday after the Turkish club accused a match referee of racism.
Basaksehir’s assistant coach, Pierre Webo, received a red card for protesting a refereeing decision and the Turkish team then alleged that the fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu, used a racist term towards the Cameroonian.
Players from both teams left the field after about 10 minutes of discussions with Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan.
“A complaint from Basaksehir’s bench after the fourth official’s racist comments were followed by a meeting of the 22 players on the field,” PSG said in a statement.
“After 10 minutes of explanation, the referee invited both teams to return to their respective changing rooms.”
The governing body of European football, UEFA, which announced that it will launch an investigation, said in a statement: “Following an alleged incident involving the fourth official, the match was temporarily suspended.”
Basaksehir added on Twitter: “Our players have made the decision NOT to return to the court after our assistant coach, Pierre Webo, has been exposed to racist behavior by the fourth official.”
MATCH RESCHEDULED
The match, which was suspended in the 13th minute, was not resumed and UEFA said the remainder of the match at Parc des Princes will be played on Wednesday.
“UEFA, after discussing it with both clubs, exceptionally decided that the remaining minutes of the match will be played tomorrow with a new team of referees,” he said.
Television footage showed the fourth officer Coltescu saying in Romanian: ‘The black man over there. Go and see who it is. The black over there, it is not possible to act like that ‘after Webo vehemently protested against an arbitration decision.
Demba Ba facing the fourth official. Well done Demba, there is no place for racism anywhere! 👏 pic.twitter.com/PP1fvYzwEp
– Purely football (@PurelyFootball) December 8, 2020
“Why do you say black?” Basaksehir’s substitute Demba Ba asked the match referee Hategan repeatedly as confusion reigned on the touchline in the Group H match.
Television footage also showed PSG’s French defender Presnel Kimpembe saying ‘Are you serious? We are heading inwards. We are heading inwards. That’s it, we’re heading inward. “
UEFA INVESTIGATION
UEFA said it will carry out a “thorough investigation”.
“Racism and discrimination in all its forms have no place in football,” the governing body said in a statement.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan said on Twitter that he believed UEFA would take the necessary measures.
“We are unconditionally against racism and discrimination in sport and in all areas of life,” he wrote.
Basaksehir posted the UEFA “No to Racism” poster on Twitter, which was retweeted by PSG on their own official account.
✊🏻✊🏿 NO TO RACISM | #Respect pic.twitter.com/Ic1BzfANoi
– Istanbul Başakşehir (@ ibfk2014) December 8, 2020
The French champions added in their statement: “All forms of racism go against the values of Paris Saint-Germain and the club’s president, staff and players.
“For more than 15 years, PSG has led the fight against discrimination and continues to work to eradicate it in all its forms.”
PSG qualified for the knockout stages of Europe’s leading club competition, despite the match being suspended and later rescheduled after Manchester United lost 3-2 in Leipzig.
Reuters
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