SAN FRANCISCO, December 09, (THEWILL) – Paris Saint-Germain have publicly condemned all forms of racism in no uncertain terms after the postponement of their UEFA Champions League match with Istanbul Basaksehir.
The Group H tie was stopped after 13 minutes on Tuesday with both sets of players clustered on the sidelines thrashing out allegations of racism against the fourth official.
The microphones picked up Basaksehir substitute Demba Ba words as he remonstrated with the fourth official involved Sebastian Coltescu, saying: “You never said ‘this white guy’. Why, when you mention a black guy, do you have to say ‘this black guy’?”
The players from both sides then left the field and play did not resume for over two hours before the match was called off and pushed back to Wednesday. Play will restart from the 14th minute and a new refereeing team will be in place.
PSG are already guaranteed qualification as Manchester United lost to RB Leipzig in the other Group H tie played in the Red Bull Arena, Leipzig.
UEFA confirmed that a “thorough investigation” into the incident would be opened immediately.
Basaksehir’s Twitter account posted a message, after their players left the pitch, saying the club’s assistant coach, Pierre Webo, had been exposed to racist behaviour by Coltescu.
The Turkish side also posted an image stating ‘No To Racism’, which was retweeted by the official PSG account. The Ligue 1 champions followed up with a statement of their own which read:
“Tonight’s match between PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir was interrupted after 13 minutes of play following racist remarks by the fourth official to a member of the Basaksehir club staff.
“All forms of racism go against the values held by Paris Saint-Germain, the club’s chairman, staff and players.”
As an investigation is ongoing and the allegations against Coltescu have not yet been proven, UEFA did their best not to preempt the findings.
“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.”
However, that did not stop the President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan from reacting via social media.
“I strongly condemn the racist remarks made against Pierre Webo, member of the technical staff of Basaksehir, and I am convinced that UEFA will take the necessary measures,” Erdogan posted on Twitter.
“We are unconditionally against racism and discrimination in sport and in all areas of life.”
Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoglu, who is Erdogan’s Minister for Sport also weighed in on Twitter: “Racism is a crime against humanity! We are alongside our representative Basaksehir.”
Meanwhile, his French counterpart, Roxana Maracineanu, France’s Minister for Sport, wrote: “Tonight, athletes took a historic decision in the face of an attitude they deemed unacceptable. An expression of ordinary racism.
“We are awaiting the results of the investigation but I can only salute the strong symbolism of their gesture and their solidarity.”
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
