Football Teams Walk Off Field in UEFA Match Over Racist Comments

UEFA Champions League Group H match between the football clubs of Paris and Istanbul was stopped within 15 minutes of play after racist comments were passed by one of the match officials.

The UEFA match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir was underway at Parc des Princes stadium in Paris on December 9.

The Turkish club assistant manager, Pierre Webo, who is a former Cameroon striker,  engaged in a quarrel with the referee, Sebastian Coltescu.

For arguing, the fourth official showed a red card to the Turkish official and send him off.

However, things heated up when the red card recipient said that the referee had passed a racist comment during the argument.

The Turkish club’s assistant manager was heard over a broadcast asking the referee “Why you say Negro?” At this, the Turkish team stopped playing and headed to the dressing room as a protest against the fourth official.

Istanbul Basaksehir refused to return to the field unless the referee was not removed from supervising the match.

✊🏻✊🏿 NO TO RACISM | #Respect pic.twitter.com/Ic1BzfANoi

— İstanbul Başakşehir (@ibfk2014) December 8, 2020

Later, Paris Saint-Germain backed the visitor’s stance over the racist remarks.

All forms of racism go against the values held by Paris Saint-Germain, the club’s Chairman, staff and players.

— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_English) December 8, 2020

The home club as well as the team players extended full support to Webo.

SAY NO TO RACISM. ❌❌❌

M.WEBO WE ARE WITH YOU. ✊🏽

— Kylian Mbappé (@KMbappe) December 8, 2020

NO ❌✊🏾 pic.twitter.com/Z3WIbgCFgi

— Presnel Kimpembe (@kimpembe_3) December 8, 2020

UEFA has announced to hold a thorough investigation into the racist incident that has sparked outrage in the sporting world.

UEFA is aware of an incident during tonight’s Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir and will be conducting a thorough investigation.

Racism, and discrimination in all its forms, has no place within football.
#NoToRacism

— UEFA (@UEFA) December 8, 2020

The remaining part of the match will be played on Wednesday at 6:55 pm local time.

All four officials, earlier supervising the game, have been replaced.

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Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also condemned the racist comments by the fourth official.

“I strongly condemn the racist remarks made against Pierre Webo, one of our representative Başakşehir’s technical team, and I believe that the necessary steps will be taken by UEFA”, he said on Twitter.

Meanwhile, in another match between Juventus and Barcelona, Cristiano Ronaldo scored two penalties against Messi’s Barcelona to win the match 3-0.