PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir players walk off during Champions League clash amid allegations of racism towards Turkish side’s Cameroonian assistant manager (photos/videos)
Written by MAX FM on December 9, 2020
The Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir was abandoned last night after the two squads walked off amid allegations of racism by fourth official Sebastian Coltescu.
The Group H encounter was suspended in the 16th minute after Basaksehir’s Cameroonian assistant manager, Pierre Webo was allegedly racially abused by the official after an incident on the touchline.
Webo, 38, accused Coltescu of racism after being shown a red card, with footage from the incident appearing to show him saying in Romanian: ‘The black one over there. Go and check who he is. The black one over there, it’s not possible to act like that’ after Webo vehemently protested against a refereeing decision.
Fourth official Sebastian Coltescu accused of making the racist remark on the touchline
Basaksehir striker, Demba Ba was seen angrily confronting the official in question in defense of Webo before the players returned to the changing rooms in the French capital.
The former Chelsea and Newcastle striker said on the pitch in protest when referring to a white person; “You never say ‘this white guy,’ you say ‘this guy. Why when you mention a black guy, you have to say ‘this black guy’?”
After a lengthy delay, the game was eventually called off with the remaining minutes to be played on Wednesday at 6:55 pm local time with a new refereeing team in charge led by Holland’s Danny Makkelie.
A UEFA statement read: ‘Following an incident at tonight’s UEFA Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir, UEFA has – after discussion with both clubs – decided on an exceptional basis to have the remaining minutes of the match played tomorrow with a new team of match officials.
‘The kick-off has been set at 18:55CET. A thorough investigation of the incident that took place will be opened immediately.’