LaLiga has reported the racist and xenophobic abuse aimed at Sevilla defender Marcos Acuña and his coach Quique Sanchez Flores by home fans during Saturday’s league game at Getafe.
Sevilla condemned the abuse and LaLiga has now filed an official complaint with the Anti-Violence Commission and the Spanish football federation (RFEF)’s Competition Committee regarding the two incidents at the Coliseum.
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The game was temporarily stopped in the 68th minute, with a warning issued over the stadium tannoy — as stipulated by LaLiga’s anti-racism protocol — after racist slurs were heard being shouted by a section of the crowd according to the referee’s match report.
Sevilla manager Sanchez Flores said in his post-match news conference following his team’s 1-0 win that he had been called “gypsy” by a group of fans during the encounter.
Another racist episode stained Spain on Saturday when Rayo Majadahonda’s goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr was shown a red card for confronting a fan who allegedly racially insulted him in his team’s third division league game at Sestao River. Majadahonda refused to continue the game following the red card.
Saturday’s incidents came just days after Spain played Brazil at the Bernabéu stadium in a game organised to raise awareness of racism.
In the lead up to the match, Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior gave an emotional news conference where he was asked about the frequent racist abuse he has suffered since arriving in Spain.
After the latest incidents of abuse over the weekend, he took to social media to show solidarity with Sarr, Acuña and Sanchez Flores.
“If all coloured players were like him [Vinícius], racism would end,” Sarr said
“I would go all the way for him [Vinícius] because he has gone through this many times. I’m very proud of him for speaking out. I thank him for supporting me and for fighting against racism, because he cannot do it alone.”