LaLiga’s party between Espanyol and Athletic Bilbao stopped due to the alleged racist abuse

CNN
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A LaLiga match between Espanyol and Bilbao Atlético He stopped briefly on Sunday afternoon after an athletic player was supposedly subjected to racist abuse by fans.

During the first half, the Atlético striker Iñaki Williams The informed referee Guillermo Cuadra Fernández that the supporters of the local team had abused his teammate Maroan Sannadi, whose parents are Moroccan.

The referee responded by activating the anti -racism protocol of the league, for which the game was arrested and a message was played to the followers who warn them that it would be abandoned if the abuse did not stop. A message was also shown that condemned racist, xenophobic and homophobic abuse on the big screen inside the stage front stadium.

The game was interrupted for about three minutes before the game continued.

“Football should be about enjoyment. It’s Sunday, it’s a good day, two in the afternoon. This kind of thing should not happen ” Williams said In an interview after the game.

“The referee acted very well. The (ignition message) came out the screens. I really did not understand why (fans) were whistling me, but anyway, hope that (the authorities) do it well, they give visibility and that the perpetrators are punished. ”

Both clubs also published on social networks to condemn racist abuse in football matches, with Athletics declaration Reading: “United against racism, zero tolerance against any discriminatory attitude. These people and attitudes are not necessary in football launches or in our society. “Espanyol, meanwhile, saying“RCD Espanyol emphatically condemns, once again, any act of racism in the football field.”

LaLiga aware The interview after Iñaki Williams party at the events to its corporate social networks, and adds: “Racism does not take place in our stadiums.”

CNN has communicated with LaLiga, the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), Athletic Bilbao and Espanyol to comment.

In 2020, Prohibited Espanyol 12 of their supporters after they were identified by having Racially abused Williams during a match in January of that year.

LaLiga has seen multiple incidents of high profile racist abuse in recent years. In particular, Vinícius Jr. Del Real Madrid He has spoken repeatedly against the abuse he has suffered. Three Valencia fans They were sentenced to eight months in prison in June 2024 for directing racist abuse towards the Brazilian star in a match in May 2023.

The Sunday afternoon contest ended 1-1. Roberto Fernández opened the score for Espanyol in the 62nd minute when he stole the ball from goalkeeper Unai Simon and rolled it to the net, but Oihan Sancet equaled 15 minutes later, flying home a Nico Williams, Iñaki’s brother, in the corner from the right.