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Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir staged an unprecedented joint strike over racism by a Champions League official on Tuesday, prompting UEFA, the sport’s European governing body, to suspend play and initiate a investigation.
The final group match between the two teams, which took place at the Princes Park stadium in Paris, was postponed until Wednesday after the players left the field saying fourth official Sebastian Coltescu of Romania used a racial term when identifying the Basaksehir’s Cameroonian assistant coach, Pierre. Webo.
“I strongly condemn the racist comments made against Pierre Webo, one of our representatives in the Basaksehir technical team, and I believe that UEFA will take the necessary action. We are unconditionally against racism and discrimination in sport and in all areas of life, “said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Twitter.
I strongly condemn the racist comments made against Pierre Webo by the technical team of our representative Başakşehir, and I believe that UEFA will take the necessary action.
We are unconditionally against racism and discrimination in sport and in all areas of life. #No to racism
– Recep Tayyip Erdogan (@RTErdogan) December 8, 2020
The flash point came on the touchline after 14 minutes of play and Webo enraged demanded an explanation from Coltescu, repeating at least six times: “Why do you say black?” before he was expelled for his sideline behavior.
“You are racist,” Basaksehir coach Okan Buruk told Coltescu.
The exchanges were broadcast live around the world from the most important club competition in football.
Racism in Paris. pic.twitter.com/x9Y9mzZKC1
– Juliet Bawuah (@julietbawuah) December 8, 2020
Both teams took to Twitter to express their disapproval of the events.
Basaksehir’s official Twitter page published a statement saying that “our footballers decided not to go out on the field due to the racism expressed by the 4th referee Sebastian Coltescu against our assistant coach Pierre Webo”.
✊🏻✊🏿 NO TO RACISM | #Respect pic.twitter.com/Ic1BzfANoi
– Istanbul Başakşehir (@ ibfk2014) December 8, 2020
PSG echoed the sentiment and tweeted that “any form of racism goes against the values transmitted by Paris Saint-Germain, its president, its staff and its players.”
Basaksehir’s substitute Demba Ba demanded that the fourth official explain himself, while PSG players Neymar and Kylian Mbappé also demanded an explanation.
SAY NO TO RACISM. ❌❌❌
M.WEBO WE ARE WITH YOU. ✊🏽
– Kylian Mbappé (@ KMbappé) December 8, 2020
Inappropriate responses
“The withdrawal of Basaksehir and PSG together sets a marker in Europe,” Piara Powar, executive director of the anti-discrimination network Fare, told The Associated Press.
“Many players are fed up with the half measures to combat racism and are more prepared than ever to exercise their right to stop a game.
“Our colleagues from the Romanian state anti-discrimination organization have confirmed that it is racist in Romanian to refer to a player using their race as an identifier. There is no ambiguity. This incident shows the need for better training of referees. Unintentional racism is still racism. “
The same Romanian referee who took over the match in Paris on Tuesday, Ovidiu Hategan, was also in charge of the 2013 Champions League match when Manchester City player Yaya Touré complained of lack of action to noise from monkey he heard from CSKA Moscow fans.
“If officials cannot set the standards for their own behavior, they cannot be trusted to deal with racism on the field or in the stands,” Powar added.
Referees have often been criticized for not taking players off the field and letting them make the decision.
England decided to continue playing a men’s international match in Montenegro last year after Callum Hudson-Odoi and Danny Rose were attacked with monkey chants.
“For the players to leave is a step in the right direction,” former England and Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand told BT Sport in Great Britain. “But you can’t leave it to them.”
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