La Liga: Valencia leave pitch in protest against racism
During Sunday's 2-1 loss at Cadiz, Valencia walked off the pitch following an alleged racist comment, before later returning to finish the match.
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| Mouctar Diakhaby requested his Valencia teammates return to complete the match at Cadiz. Photo: @valenciacf_en |
Mouctar Diakhaby angrily reacted after a clash in the first half with Juan Cala of Cadiz and spoke with the referee.
Valencia players walked off the pitch in protest as the club said Diakhaby, 24, "received a racial insult".
Later, he asked his teammates to return and they resumed the game, however, without Diakhaby who was substituted.
Valencia completely backing Mouctar Diakhaby after receiving "racial insult" ⬇
We offer our complete backing to @Diakhaby_5
— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 4, 2021
The player, who had received a racial insult, requested that his teammates return to the pitch.
WE SUPPORT YOU MOUCTAR
𝗡𝗢 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗠 ✊🏽✊🏿 pic.twitter.com/iPtPSpdNYv
Jose Gaya, Valencia defender, said after the game that the team either had to resume playing or risk a points deduction.
Gaya told Spanish network Movistar: "Diakhaby told us he heard a racist insult so we all went off the pitch.
"We were told that we had to play because if we didn't, they would take the three points off us and maybe we'd be docked more points.
Full-Time: Cadiz 2-1 Valencia ⬇
FULL.TIME pic.twitter.com/60iTWZ2eus
— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 4, 2021
"Diakhaby asked us to play on. We wouldn't have done so if he hadn't done so. He said he wasn't in the right state of mind to keep playing. He is devastated."
About the decision to return to the pitch, Valencia said: "We offer our complete backing to Mouctar Diakhaby.
"The team have held a meeting and decided to continue the game, in order to fight for the honour of the club, but denounce racism of any kind."
Gaya said he had heard the comment Cala made to Diakhaby.
Valencia says "STOP RACISM!" ⬇
Today, tomorrow and always:
— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 5, 2021
𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗠! 🖐🖐🏻🖐🏼🖐🏽🖐🏾🖐🏿
Our full backing to @Diakhaby_5.
We’ll fight until the end to clarify what happened, defend our player and eradicate racism!
#JuntsAnemAmunt #AllToPlayFor pic.twitter.com/RygaquFZlN
He further said: "It was a very ugly insult which I won't repeat. We haven't been able to speak with Cala because he was the last player to leave the pitch. I'm certain that he said something. It was a very strange game."
Cadiz said they were "against any manifestation of racism or xenophobia", regardless of who the perpetrator was and that "they work hard to help eradicate" discrimination.
Even Italian Serie A club AC Milan are "saddened to hear" about Diakhaby's racist incident at Cadiz ⬇
We are saddened to hear of yet more racist incidents shaking the world of football. We stand with @daosanchez26, @SpursOfficial, @Diakhaby_5 and @valenciacf. Together, we must keep on fighting to build awareness in the name of tolerance and inclusivity.#WeRespAct pic.twitter.com/UFzYOoKu7z
— AC Milan (@acmilan) April 5, 2021
"Anyone guilty of such an offence, whether or not they belong to our team, must be punished," Cadiz said in a statement.
"We have complete confidence in the integrity of our squad members, who are staunch supporters of the fight against racism."
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