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UEFA has announced that it has launched a “thorough investigation” after players from Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir left the pitch in the 23rd minute of their Champions League match in the French capital on Tuesday night. night after an incident of alleged racism by the fourth official. , Sebastián Coltescu.
Play was immediately suspended and while an attempt was made to restart play with a new fourth official, it was eventually abandoned after the visiting team refused to return to the field. Instead, the remaining minutes of the match will resume from 5.55pm GMT on Wednesday.
“Following an alleged incident involving the fourth official, the match was temporarily suspended,” a UEFA statement read. “After consulting with both teams, it was agreed that the match would be restarted with a different fourth official. UEFA will fully investigate the matter and further communication will be made in due course. “
The withdrawal came after Basaksehir’s Cameroonian assistant coach Pierre Webo was seen with a red card in the 16th minute for protesting a referee decision. That prompted Basaksehir striker Demba Ba, a substitute for the night, to confront Coltescu over what the official said when he asked referee Ovidiu Hategan to fire Webo, who Reuters reported was: “The black man over there. Go and see who it is. The black man there, it is not possible to act like that. “
In response, a clearly outraged Ba could be seen in a video telling Coltescu, “You never say ‘this white guy’, you say, ‘These guys.’ So listen to me, why when you mention a nigga do you have to say ‘this nigga’?
Ba could also be seen in the images confronting Hategan and saying, “Why does it say black?” Heated discussions ensued before both sets of players set off down the tunnel.
Issuing a statement on Twitter, Basaksehir said: “Our players have made the decision NOT to return to the pitch after our assistant coach Pierre Webo has been exposed to racist behavior by the fourth official.” The same account also published the message: “NO TO RACISM Respect.”
PSG also issued a statement on Twitter about what happened during the first half at the Parc des Princes. It read: “After the referee gives a red card to a member of the opposition staff, discussions continue between the players and the staff of both teams with the referee. The Basaksehir players decide to go back to the dressing room, the Parisians follow them ”.
The show of support from the PSG players was swift and decisive. Central defender Presnel Kimpembe could be seen in images that read: “Are you serious? We are entering. We are entering. That’s all, we are going in ”, while tensions in Paris increased. Meanwhile, forward Kylian Mbappé subsequently posted the following message on Twitter: “SAY NO TO RACISM. M WEBO WE ARE WITH YOU ”.
It is rare for players to leave the field in protest against racism and the fact that those from both teams involved in the game in Paris did so was especially surprising. It could also be a turning point in football’s fight against discrimination, and in that sense, it will focus heavily on UEFA’s investigation and the sanctions issued by the governing body in the event Coltescu is found guilty of racism.
Tayyip Erdogan, President of Turkey, issued his own statement on Twitter Tuesday night: “We are unconditionally against racism and discrimination in sports and in all areas of life.”
Regardless of the outcome in the reshuffled match in Paris on Wednesday night, Thomas Tuchel’s side have qualified for the knockout stages of the Champions League after Manchester United’s 3-2 defeat against RB Leipzig.
PSG have nine points, the same amount as United, and even if they stay at that after what will be their last Group H match, the French champions will progress with a better head-to-head record against Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s team. . .
A win against Basaksehir would allow PSG to overtake Leipzig and go to the round of 16 as group champion.
