Teams walk off after referee’s alleged racist slur
The Champions League football match between Paris SaintGermain (PSG) and Basaksehir was postponed a day when players walked off the field after alleging that fourth official Sebastian Coltescu of Romania used a racial term when identifying an assistant coach.
Players from the Turkish team were furious after assistant coach Pierre Webo was shown a red card by referee Ovidiu Hategan of Romania at Parc des Princes in Paris, saying Coltescu had used a racial term to describe Webo, who is from Cameroon, before he was sent off.
Basaksehir substitute
Demba Ba demanded that the fourth official explain himself, while leading PSG players Neymar and Kylian Mbappe also demanded an explanation. Basaksehir coach Okan
Buruk said ‘‘you are racist’’ to Coltescu.
The score was 0-0 when the incident took place 14 minutes into the match yesterday.
Uefa, European football’s governing body, said the match would resume this morning with new officials.
‘‘Uefa has – after discussion with both clubs – decided on an exceptional basis to have the remaining minutes of the match played tomorrow with a new team of match officials,’’ Uefa said in a statement. ‘‘A thorough investigation on the incident that took place will be opened immediately.’’
Television footage captured the exchange between the fourth official and the referee, with Coltescu telling Hategan that Webo should be reprimanded for his behaviour on the sidelines.
‘‘Go and give it [the red card] to the black one, this is not poss
‘‘We’re at a disturbing tipping point – not a week goes by without an incident involving race.’’
Rio Ferdinand former Manchester United and England defender
ible [tolerable], go and identify him, go verify, the black one over there,’’ Coltescu allegedly said, in Romanian, about Webo.
Webo was enraged and was heard to repeat at least six times
‘‘Why you say negro?’’ as he sought an explanation from Coltescu.
Webo, who was visibly distressed, then added: ‘‘He can’t say negro, he can’t say negro.’’
At this point, Ba could be heard also questioning what Coltescu had said.
‘‘Why is the fourth official saying ‘negro?’,’’ Ba said twice.
Moments later, Ba came off the bench and stood in front of Coltescu and said: ‘‘Why when you mention a black guy, you have to say ‘this black guy?’’’
During the interruption, Basaksehir posted a message on Twitter against a Uefa backdrop with the message ‘‘No to racism’’.
The message was retweeted by
Paris Saint-germain.
PSG defender Presnel Kimpembe, who was on the field at the time, also posted that message on his Twitter account.
Mbappe expressed his support for Webo on Twitter. ‘‘Say no to racism,’’ he wrote. ‘‘Webo we are with you.’’
Former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand, who played 81 times for England, said it was crucial Uefa responds strongly.
‘‘We’re at a disturbing tipping point, not a week goes by without an incident involving race,’’ he told broadcaster BT Sport. ‘‘The players walking off is a step in the right direction, but it can’t just be left to them.’’