VALENCIA WALK OFF AFTER STAR IS ABUSED
VALENCIA walked off the pitch in yesterday’s La Liga clash with Cadiz after Mouctar Diakhaby had been racially abused.
Diakhaby reacted with fury after a clash with Cadiz’s Juan Cala and spoke with the referee before leading his team off.
Valencia eventually resumed the game without Diakhaby, who told his team-mates to go back out, and lost 2-1. Fellow stopper Jose Gaya said: “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.
“Diakhaby asked us to play on, we wouldn’t have done so if he hadn’t. He said he wasn’t in the right state of mind to keep playing. He is devastated.”
Gaya also claimed he had heard the comment Cala made to Diakhaby. He added: “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 he said something.”
Marcos Mauro, who hit a late winner for Cadiz, said he knew nothing about the incident but added that Cala was “a great team mate and very respectful”.
Neymar was accused of being a “crazy” hothead for getting himself sent off in PSG’s shock loss to French title rivals Lille.
Boss Mauricio Pochettino is a man under pressure after Jonathan David’s deflected effort earned Lille a 1-0 victory and sent them three points clear at the top in a four-way tussle also featuring Monaco and Lyon.
Neymar and Lille’s Tiago Djalo were both shown second yellow cards after a bust-up.
Ex-France defender Bixente Lizarazu said of him: “As soon as things don’t turn out in his favour, Neymar goes crazy.”