The friendly match between Qatar and New Zealand last night was sensational. The Kiwis decided not to re-enter the field after half-time after one of their players was racially abused by an opponent. “But the referee didn't hear it, neither the bench nor the coaches, nobody heard it,” says Carlos Queiroz, Qatar's national coach.
The international friendly was played at a neutral ground in Austria.
New Zealand led 0-1 at half-time and decided to stay in the dressing room for the 2nd half.
“Michael Boxall was racially abused by a Qatari player in the first half of the match. No official suspension was given and the team has therefore decided not to play in the second half,” the New Zealand Football Association said.
Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz expressed doubts about the racist incident.
“Obviously two players said things to each other on the field,” the national coach told Qatar Sports Channel.
“The New Zealand players decided to support their team-mate and all our players supported their team-mate.”
Queiroz expects FIFA to investigate the incident. “But the referee didn't hear it, neither did the bench or the coaches, nobody heard it.”
“It was an exchange between two players, without witnesses. It was word against word.”
A friendly between Ireland's U21s and their counterparts from Kuwait was also called off early yesterday due to a case of racism.
A Kuwaiti player allegedly verbally abused one of Ireland's reserves in the second half, after which the Irish were ejected.
Last weekend, star player Vinicius reported a racist incident during Brazil-Guinea, which is about the fight against racism.
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