Primera División: Valencia CF "forced" to continue playing after a racism incident

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The Valencia CF players leave the pitch

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ROMAN RIOS / EPA

According to FC Valencia, the players were "forced" to continue playing after an incident of racism in the game against FC Cadiz.

The club did not ask the footballers to return to the field, wrote the table twelfth of the Primera División late in the evening after the 1: 2 on the club website.

The referee informed the team of the consequences if the team did not continue the game.

"The players, forced to play under penalty of being punished for the racist insult and the yellow card against Diakhaby, decided to return to the field," it said.

After the allegation of a racist statement, the game was interrupted for a long time on Sunday evening.

The Valencia players left the pitch after just under half an hour.

Previously, there had been an argument on the pitch between Valencia's Mouctar Diakhaby and opponent Juan Cala.

The Frenchman Diakhaby was apparently very upset, he stormed towards the Cadiz professional.

Diakhaby saw a yellow card.

Valencia tweeted that the teams had decided to continue the game but would condemn all forms of racism.

They support Diakhaby: "The player who was racially insulted has asked his teammates to go back on the field."

Valencia defender Jose Gaya said the team continued to play because they were threatened with defeat.

"Diakhaby told us he was insulted," said the 25-year-old.

"That's why we left the place, but they told us that we had to come back, otherwise they would take away the three points and maybe more," Gaya reported, leaving it open who was supposed to have made the threat.

Diakhaby had asked the team, according to Gaya, to continue playing.

"We would not have done that without his permission." The Frenchman was "devastated" and could not continue playing.

When the game officially resumed in the 30th minute after a break of more than 20 minutes at 1-1, Diakhaby did not return to the game.

He was substituted on for Hugo Guillamon.

Cadiz won the game 2-1 thanks to a late goal from Marcos Mauro (88th minute).

At halftime it was 1: 1.

ara / dpa