A sad day for the sport

The world was appalled at the sight of Valencia players walking off the pitch less than 30 minutes into their La Liga match against Cadiz. It was clear that something was seriously wrong. Mouctar Diakhaby reacted furiously following an altercation with Cadiz’s Spanish centre back Juan Cala. The Frenchman was apparently called ‘a black sh*t’ by his rival.

Referee David Medie Jimenez said in his report that Diakhaby had told him Juan Cala had used a racial slur against him, although Cadiz coach Alvaro Cervera said his player had assured him he had not insulted the Frenchman.

Serious accusations: Juan Cala (©AFP)

It was the first time a La Liga match had been halted following an accusation of racism, but not before the victim was shown a yellow card before the Valencia players left the pitch for arguing with Cala.

What followed is a sour and humiliating warning by the match organizers towards Diakhaby’s team. Valencia were told by organisers to resume playing Sunday’s La Liga match at Cadiz or they would have to forfeit the points after they had left the pitch.

The players eventually returned to the pitch but did so without Diakhaby, who said he was not in the right state of mind to continue playing and was substituted. The Frenchman did however show admirable sportsmanship despite everything as he instructed his team-mates to go back on and complete the match. Valencia captain Jose Gaya revealed that the team were warned that there would be serious repercussions if they did not return to the field.

"We were told that we had to play because if we didn’t, they would take the three points off us and maybe we’d be docked more points. Diakhaby himself asked us to play on, we wouldn’t have done so if he hadn’t done so. He said he wasn’t in the right state of mind to keep playing. He is devastated."

Valencia players abandon the pitch due to racial abuse of their player

It’s a horrible move from La Liga to force a team to return to the pitch when everyone had been shaken by the racist abuse one of the players had suffered. Football is the biggest game in the world but, sadly, there are times when there are more important things to deal with. The match organizers failed to understand this. As a result, the reputation of the entire competition has been put in danger by one man’s stupidity.

Speaking of the man and his stupidity, Juan Cala was substituted at half time. But Cadiz coach Cervera said he took the defender off because he was already on a booking and did not want to risk him getting sent off, adding he believed his player’s denial.

Racism has once again shown its ugly face at the top level of football. If it’s not dealt with, the game itself could be compromised. Let us hope that people in charge realize this.