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| Mouctar Diakhaby makes his case as players walk off the pitch after the Valencia player reported a racist behaviour from a Cadiz player. (Photo credit: La Liga Inside) |
Valencia players walked off the pitch in the 29th minute of their La Liga clash with Cadiz on Sunday after Mouctar Diakhaby was the victim of an alleged racist comment.
The score was 1-1 when Diakhaby was involved in an altercation with
Cadiz's Juan Cala. Valencia's Gabriel Paulista then kicked the ball out of play
and the players from both sides walked off the pitch.
Following a short break, the players returned to the pitch, but
Diakhaby did not return and Hugo Guillamon came on in his place.
"We offer our complete backing to Mouctar Diakhaby," a
tweet posted on Valencia’s handle read. "The player, who had
received a racial insult, requested that his teammates return to the pitch. WE
SUPPORT YOU MOUCTAR. NO TO RACISM."
Real Madrid coach Zinedine Zidane condemned racism of any
form in the league when asked about the incident on Monday.
"What I can say is one clear thing on racism: zero tolerance.
I don't know exactly what happened yesterday, I wasn't there, but what I can
say is what I feel inside, that's respect towards people first, that's the most
important," he told a news conference.
"Zero tolerance for racism... Not just in terms of words, but
at every level, all behaviour."
Diakhaby was seen watching the remainder of the first half from
the stands.
After the match, Valencia defender Jose Gaya said the team was
told to return to the pitch.
"Diakhaby told us he heard a racist insult so we all went off
the pitch. 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," Gaya
told Spanish network Movistar.
"Diakhaby 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."
Referee David Medie Jimenez said in his report that Diakhaby had
told him 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.
It was the first time a La Liga match had been halted following an accusation of racism.
Gaya said he had heard the comment Cala made to Diakhaby.
"It was a very ugly insult which I won't repeat. We haven't
been able to speak with Cala because he was the last player to leave the pitch.
I'm certain that he said something. It was a very strange game," Gaya
said.
Valencia coach Javi Gracia said Diakhaby had been "seriously
insulted and was quite shaken."
He added: "Logically we decided to tell the referee we didn't
agree with that [playing on] and that we didn't want to continue playing. While
we were in the dressing room we were told we could potentially be sanctioned if
we didn't return.
"We spoke to Diakhaby, he said he was not able to play but he
understood we needed to return to play rather than be sanctioned and so we
returned with the intention to fight for the victory."
Gracia added that the match
referee and assistants did not know what had been said to Diakhaby. He also did
not reveal who had told his team they could be sanctioned.
Cadiz released a statement saying the club was "against any
manifestation of racism or xenophobia, regardless of who the perpetrator
is" but did not mention Cala.
"We don't doubt the honesty of all members of our squad, who
are firm believers in the fight against racism and whose attitude in every game
has always been exemplary," it added.
"The club cannot assess incidents in a match between players
and we always demand that our players show respect and responsibility towards
their opponents."
Cala had put Cadiz ahead on 14 minutes, before Kevin
Gameiro equalized for Valencia five minutes later. Marcos Mauro scored in
the 88th to give Cadiz the 2-1 win.
