The only thing I can do is tell the truth

La Liga claim there is no evidence of any racial slur in that infamous Mouctar Diakhaby - Juan Cala incident, but Valencia player himself is determined to prove he was not lying. And that he truly was the victim of racial insult, indeed.

According to him, Cadiz player did tell him "black s***". The French defender of Guinean descent heard it loud and clear and denies the possibility of misunderstanding.

La Liga: There was no racism in that Cala vs Diakhaby incident

In today's interview for the Spanish newspaper AS, Diakhaby explained it all.

How are you?

"I feel fine. The past week was difficult for me. The media issue was complicated. But now I'm okay. During the week I trained normally, trying to forget about everything. I'm professional. But now I want to tell what I experienced."

Let's get to the facts, you heard that racial insult at what point?

"He tells me when we are in the box. When I protect the ball for my goalkeeper. When the keeper has the ball, he insults me and turns. I didn't listen to the "leave me alone" thing, because he then went backwards. I yelled "referee, referee." My reaction was weird. It was the first time that had happened to me and I forgot everything that happened on the grass. I only had his words in his head."

Cadiz vs Valencia racism scandal continues

Does he say it quietly, in your ear...?

"He tells me when he gets up. You can see in the image that he turns a little towards me and the last word that comes out is “shit”. But when he says it (the phrase 'black s***' is not reproduced during the interview because his young son appears in the living room) he is closer to the ground than he is standing."

You then call the referee, ignore the play and go to Cala.

"I was just thinking about the phrase. You all saw how I reacted."

A sad day for the sport

Then he makes a gesture of asking for forgiveness.

"Yes. He wanted to excuse himself, but I didn't want to know anything about anyone or hear what he wanted to say. I was very angry."

What has hurt you the most of everything you experienced as a result of the fact that you reported?

"After the insult? The statement of (the La Liga president) Javier Tebas. I read it and laughed. I do not know how to explain it. If he had said that they have no proof that Cala said that, well... But what he said is that I had misunderstood... and it is quite rare and awkward to say that."

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

Does it surprise you that in today's football, in a stadium with 17 cameras, there are no images or sounds to confirm your accusation?

"It's something I don't understand either. In football now everything comes out. The conversations between the players, there are people who read lips ... I have not understood that there is no more evidence, really. But hey, what can I do? Nothing. Just tell the truth, which is what I'm doing. I do not understand that all the images are from far away, that there are no close ones."