PSG-Istanbul Basaksehir, corresponding to the last day of the Champions League, has been suspended due to an alleged case of racism. The former Mallorca player, Pierre Webó, accused the fourth referee of having insulted him in a racist way, which originated a protest that led to the party being stopped. UEFA has already confirmed that the match will resume this Wednesday starting at 6:55 pm with a new referee quartet. Dutch Danny Makkelie It is the referee chosen by the European football organization.
Both teams, voluntarily, decided to leave the field of play in protest at the accusation of the Cameroonian towards one of the match officials. The incident occurred in the 7th minute, after a very hard tackle on Neymar that later led to the alleged racist act.
According to the TV images, the fourth official, Sebastian Coltescu, of the Romanian referee Hategan told Pierre Webó: “It was that black boy.” What caused the incident with the Turkish team bench. On TV it has been observed how the soccer player Demba Ba tells him: “When you point to a white player, you don't say 'that white player'. But when you refer to a black player, you say 'that black player'”. Various members of the Basaksehir staff they pointed to the word 'respect', silkscreened on their pants.
Version of the referee quartet to the UEFA delegate
The fourth official, the also Romanian Sebastian Coltescu assures that he has not called him “black” in the derogatory sense, if not “black guy”. But the explanation does not convince the players of the Turkish team who, led by a member of their coaching staff, reproach the fourth official for using skin color to identify the player.
“Why when you refer to a white man, don't you call him the white boy?” They reproached him. The fourth official defended himself by ensuring that the word “black” does not have racist connotations in his language. Faced with the commotion generated, and despite the intervention of the UEFA delegate, the players of both teams headed to the changing rooms.
Attempt to restart by UEFA
The UEFA delegate asked the two teams to jump onto the pitch again, after spirits subsided. The Turkish team agreed but their request was for the match to resume but without the fourth official. UEFA refused because the comment was unproven and could not agree to Basaksehir's request without a report of the incidents. It was even considered that the fourth official would be replaced by one of the members of the VOR room. Members of the PSG squad are on the side of the Basaksehir players and accept the decision not to continue with the match.
Istanbul has already condemned the incident on social media, showing its support for Pierre Webó and tweeting in English “Say no to racism.” The Turkish side did not hesitate for a second to leave the pitch once Pierre-Webó accused the fourth official. The incident was of such caliber that the PSG sports director, the Brazilian Leonardo, had to go down on the grass to speak with the UEFA delegate and with the players of the Paris team.