A Spanish third division match was abandoned after a team walked off the pitch to protest racist abuse from their goalkeeper.
The goalkeeper, Cheikh Kane Sarr, went into the crowd behind his goal to confront the supporter who allegedly racially insulted him.
His Rayo Majadahonda teammates walked off the field to force the abandonment of Spain’s third division match against Sestao River.
In the 87th minute of the match, Senegalese goalkeeper Sarr, 23, received a red card after jumping into the crowd behind the goal following the alleged abuse, to confront the fan. Once the goalkeeper received a red card and informed his teammates what had happened, the entire team left the field and the match was subsequently abandoned.
“Our team will not return to the field to resume the match after receiving unacceptable racist insults against our player,” Rayo Majadahonda said in a statement after his team left the field.
“We condemn all types of racist insults in sport.”
ℹ️Our team will no longer come out to resume the match after receiving unacceptable racist insults towards our player.
We condemn all types of racist insults in sport.
– CF Rayo Majadahonda 🤍⚡️💙 (@RMajadahonda) March 30, 2024
Rayo Majadahonda President Inaki Acha said Radio Marca that the club will not pressure for the match to be replayed, insisting that it was the team’s decision to end the match: “We were under no pressure to replay the match. It was our decision, which the referee accepted.
Rayo Majadahonda captain Jorge Casado posted a message on his social media account after the match saying the whole team was “all with Cheick” and added that the authorities tried to force them to resume the match.
“What happened today at Las Llanas Stadium, home of Sestao River, is shameful,” Casado said.
“Part of the public racially insulted our teammate Cheick Sarr because of his skin color. Additionally, the league (run by the Spanish Federation) tried to force us to go out and finish the match. I feel ashamed.
“It seems unbelievable, it’s 2024 and we have brainless people walking around stadiums freely. We are all Cheick. No to racism.”
Earlier on Saturday, Sevilla condemned the “racist and xenophobic abuse” suffered by their player Marcos Acuna and coach Quique Sanchez Flores during their La Liga clash at Getafe.
The match was stopped in the 68th minute and delayed for two and a half minutes after chants of “monkey” were directed at Acuna, while Sánchez Flores claims he was called a “gypsy” by fans during the match.
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Sevilla condemns racist abuse against Acuna and Sanchez Flores during Getafe match
(Oscar J. Barroso/AFP7/Europa Press via Getty Images)