The Champions League game between Paris St. Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir will resume on Wednesday (6:55 p.m.) after it was interrupted because of an alleged racist comment by the fourth official from Romania.
This was announced by the European Football Union after talks with both clubs. The remaining minutes are to be played with a new team of referees. “A thorough investigation into the incident” will be initiated immediately, it said. Basaksehir had previously announced on Twitter: “Our players have decided not to return to the field.”
Attempted explanation with the Romanian language
In the 14th minute there was a scandal in the Parisian Prinzenpark. The team of referees had sent Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo to the stands for unsportsmanlike conduct. During this process the word “negro” or “negru” is said to have been uttered; the Istanbul officials loudly accused the Romanian referee of this, as was clearly audible through the outside microphones.
The team of referees was led by Ovidiu Hategan, Sebastian Coltescu was fourth official on the sidelines. After minutes of discussion, the teams left the field after officially played 22:30 minutes. Coltescu apparently did not deny the use of the word, but stated that he only wanted to identify the assistant coach in his Romanian language.
Protest from Demba Ba too
The former Hoffenheim Bundesliga professional Demba Ba also asked the fourth official why he used the word. At first Ba sat on the bench at Basaksehir. Webo, Ba, and others could then be heard loudly pointing out that the referees hadn’t said “the white” to identify a white player either.
UEFA initially announced that “after consulting both teams, it had been agreed to“ resume the game with another fourth official. ”However, nothing happened on the pitch, and the players later packed their bags in the catacombs and left the stadium .
Paris needs one more point
Both teams play in Group H, in which RB Leipzig made it clear that they made it through 3-2 (2-0) against Manchester United regardless of the outcome of the game in Paris. Whether Paris will progress depends on the outcome of the game, PSG need at least one point.
Those: sportschau.de
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