On Sunday, Spanish football team Valencia left the pitch during their Liga clash with Cadiz after the French defender Mouctar Diakhaby claimed he was racially abused by a rival club player, Juan Cala.
Later on, the French player urging his colleagues to return to the pitch with the squad facing the threat of docket points for abandoning the action.
Responding to the incident, the Valencia coach has called for stronger action against racism after the match was suspended Sunday night due to abusive insults by Cala.
According to a press release issued by Valencia club, the bates explained “We left the pitch for that, but the referee has told us that we had to leave (the dressing room) because if we did not, Cadiz could take three points and maybe more from us.”
“We didn’t lose only a match, we lost the respect and the spirit of football and sport,” the statement added.
Valencia also issued a statement on Twitter: “The player, who had received a racial insult, requested that his teammates return to the pitch.”
On the other hand, the Cadiz club affirmed it is “against all forms of racism or xenophobia” by anybody and that it works “hard to help eradicate” them.
The Spanish club indicated “Anyone guilty of such an offence, whether or not they belong to our team, must be punished.”
Meanwhile, Valencia coach Javi Gracia later said the official’s decision was not strong enough, according to international reports.
It’s worth mentioning that Cadiz won the tough match 2-1 thanks to an 88th-minute header by forward Mauro, moving further away from the relegation zone.
