Watch: Basaksehir, PSG walk off in protest after coach accuses ref of racism
Istanbul Basaksehir and Paris Saint-Germain players walked off in protest during Tuesday’s Champions League match at the Parc des Princes after a member of the Turkish side’s coaching staff accused the fourth official of using a racial slur.
Pierre Webo, a former Cameroonian international and current assistant at Basaksehir, who is a Black man, claimed official Constantin Sebastian Coltescu called him a “negro”.
Webo was issued a red card by match referee Ovidiu Hategan in the 16th minute.
“Why do you say negro?” Webo could be heard saying repeatedly on the television broadcast.
PSG v Basaksehir assistant referee allegedly said the “n-word” to a staff of Basaksehir pic.twitter.com/TIDp5vlyk1
— noobfcb (@noob_fcb) December 8, 2020
An intense discussion between the two teams and officials went on for several minutes before Basaksehir decided to head down the tunnel. PSG showed solidarity with their opponents and agreed to walk off as well.
The game was halted in the 23rd minute with the score tied at 0-0.
PSG vs Istanbul Basaksehir has been suspended following an alleged racist incident involving the 4th official towards Istanbul’s assistant manager. pic.twitter.com/mLIkZiPK7u
— Champions League on CBS Sports (@UCLonCBSSports) December 8, 2020
UEFA said the game would restart and Coltescu would be removed as the fourth official, but staff for both teams had already begun to pack up their equipment.
“Following an alleged incident involving the fourth official, the match was temporarily suspended. After consultation with both teams, it was agreed that the match would restart with a different fourth official,” read a statement obtained by BBC Sport.
“Uefa will thoroughly investigate the matter and further communication will be made in due course.”
Basaksehir striker Demba Ba, who’s been a vocal authority in UEFA’s ongoing fight against racism, confronted the fourth official before walking off.
“When you’re mentioning the white guy, you never say this white guy. You say this guy,” Ba was captured saying on the broadcast. “So why when you mention a black guy, you have to say this black guy?”
The moment Istanbul Basaksehir’s Demba Ba reports the racist abuse by the fourth official at Paris Saint-Germainpic.twitter.com/RlLAmtQUUF
— Rob Harris (@RobHarris) December 8, 2020
PSG star Kylian Mbappe also lent his support to Basaksehir, telling match referee Hategan, “We cannot play with this guy.”
The result of the match means little in the context of Group H. Basaksehir were already out of contention to make the knockout stage, and PSG advanced as a result of Manchester United’s loss to RB Leipzig.
