(Reuters) – Sevilla’s Argentina defender Marcos Acuna and coaching staff faced “racist and xenophobic insults” from fans during their 1-0 LaLiga victory against Getafe on Saturday, the club confirmed.
Referee Iglesias Villanueva halted the game in the 68th minute in line with LaLiga’s anti-racism protocol.
Sevilla issued a statement on the social media platform X condemning the racist and xenophobic abuse suffered by Acuna and their coaching staff.
LaLiga also released a statement emphasizing that there is no room for racist or hateful behavior in sports and pledged to work towards eliminating such behavior from the sport.
Sevilla manager Quique Sanchez Flores revealed that he too had been subjected to xenophobic insults, with fans referring to him derogatorily as a “gypsy.”
Sanchez expressed pride in his heritage but condemned the use of “gypsy” as a racist insult, calling it abhorrent.
He called for serious action to be taken against racist chanting, highlighting the negative impact it has on players.
Getafe coach Jose Bordalas acknowledged the need for activating the protocol in this case and supported the implementation of strict measures to combat racist chants.
Bordalas agreed with the decision to halt the match upon hearing the abuse aimed at Acuna, and emphasized the importance of addressing racism in football.
Real Madrid’s Vinicius Jr, a vocal advocate against racism who has also been a target of such abuse, expressed solidarity with those affected and called for decisive action to tackle racism in football.
Vinicius Jr, who was suspended for Real Madrid’s upcoming match, urged for racists to be exposed and punished, advocating for their removal from stadiums and prosecution.
He highlighted the prevalence of racism in Spanish football, citing 10 reported incidents against him last season.
The football community continues to address instances of racism, with players and authorities working together to combat such behavior. (Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Ken Ferris)
