Football: Valencia briefly walk off pitch after alleged racism | Football News
Mouctar Diakhaby accuses Cadiz defender Juan Cala of racially abusing him during a Spanish league match.
Valencia’s players walked off the pitch during a Spanish league match at Cadiz after defender Mouctar Diakhaby accused an opponent of racially abusing him.
The players eventually returned to the pitch at the request of Diakhaby, who had shared a heated exchange with Cadiz’s Juan Cala during the La Liga match on Sunday before indicating to the referee he was leaving the field, with the Frenchman’s team-mates then following him off in the 37th minute.
A statement from Valencia said the team decided to resume playing “to fight for the honour of the club, but denounce racism of any kind”.
𝗡𝗢 𝗧𝗢 𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗠 ✊🏽✊🏿
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.#CádizValencia
— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 4, 2021
A second club statement added that Diakhaby had asked his teammates to return to the pitch.
“We support you Mouctar,” said the statement on Twitter.
We offer our complete backing to @Diakhaby_5
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
— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 4, 2021
Diakhaby was replaced by Hugo Guillamon and watched the second half sitting in the stands.
Defender Cala gave Cadiz the lead in the 14th minute although Kevin Gameiro soon equalised for the visitors.
Cala stayed on the pitch after the game resumed and Diakhaby had gone off, although he too was substituted at half time for Marcos Mauro, who scored the 88th-minute winner for Cadiz.
