Barcelona’s Alejandro Balde Faces Racial Abuse During LaLiga Clash
In a disheartening turn of events, Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde has come forward with allegations of racial abuse during a recent LaLiga match. The incident occurred during Barcelona’s 1-1 draw against Getafe at the Coliseum, casting a shadow over what should have been an exciting football fixture.
Balde, who is Black, reported that the abuse took place in the first half of the game. He promptly informed referee Pablo González Fuertes about the situation. In a post-match interview, Balde expressed his disappointment, stating, “I received several racist insults from the fans here. It’s lamentable and something that should not keep happening. I advised the referee what had happened in the first half. He activated the league’s protocol in the second half, but I don’t know exactly how it works from there.”
Understanding LaLiga’s Anti-Racism Protocol
LaLiga has a specific protocol in place to address incidents of racism during matches. This protocol allows a referee to halt the game if they witness racist behavior or if a player reports such an incident. Once the game is stopped, an announcement is made over the stadium’s PA system, explaining the reason for the interruption. The announcement also warns that if the behavior continues, the players will be removed from the pitch. Should the behavior persist even after the players return, the match will be abandoned.
The referee’s report from the match read: “At halftime and while still on the pitch, the No. 3 from the visiting team communicated to my assistant that racist messages had been aimed at him. Once in the dressing room, I translated this to the delegates of both teams and the security forces present at the stadium, proceeding to perform the anti-racism protocol before the start of the second half.”
Reactions from the Football Community
Barcelona’s coach, Hansi Flick, was quick to condemn the actions of those responsible for the abuse. In a news conference, Flick stated, “There is no space for this in football or in life. This is unbelievable. It’s totally wrong. They have to stay at home, not go to matches. We have to fight against them. Also, the people around them, they can also do something. At the end, it’s not the respect we want to live together.”
Unfortunately, this was not an isolated incident on that day. In another match, second-division side Elche reported that their defender Bambo Diaby also suffered racial abuse during a 1-1 draw at Sporting Gijón. Elche stated that one alleged perpetrator had already been identified by local police in Gijón. LaLiga released a statement denouncing the incident and announced plans to file a case with the public prosecutor for hate crimes.
Ongoing Battle Against Racism in Spanish Football
Racism has been a persistent issue in Spanish football, with several high-profile cases in recent years. Real Madrid forward Vinícius Júnior has been repeatedly targeted, highlighting the ongoing struggle against racism in the sport. LaLiga and the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) have been working to combat this issue.
- In June, three Valencia fans were jailed for eight months for racially abusing Vinícius during a LaLiga game in May 2023, marking the first verdict of its kind in the country.
- In September, a court handed a 12-month suspended sentence to a Mallorca supporter who used racist insults against Vinícius and Villarreal‘s Samuel Chukwueze in February 2023.
- A month later, Spain’s national police arrested four people responsible for a hate campaign against Vinícius.
These incidents underscore the need for continued vigilance and action against racism in football. The football community must come together to ensure that the sport remains a place of respect and unity, free from discrimination and hate.
Originally Written by: Associated Press
