The UEFA Champions League tie between Paris St. Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir had to be canceled after 15 minutes due to alleged racist remarks from the match officials.
The match was abandoned on Tuesday after the fourth official was accused of using a racist word against one of the staff on the Istanbul bench. The incident happened just 14 minutes into the Champions League Group H tie, which was still goalless.
According to the Istanbul unit, Sebastian Coltescu, the fourth official, used the language to point assistant coach Pierre Webo on the bench. In an exchange on the touchline, former Cameroon international Webo was handed a red card. In protest, Istanbul players walked off the pitch, with PSG players following.
There followed a wait of around two hours before official confirmation the game would not be finished on Tuesday. During that period, PSG players could be seen warming up in the tunnel awaiting a resumption, but their opponents did not re-emerge.
Istanbul forward Demba Ba, who was a substitute, could be seen on the touchline asking the official: “Why, when you mention a black guy, do you have to say this black guy?”
In a statement, Uefa said: “Uefa has – after discussion with both clubs – decided on an exceptional basis to have the remaining minutes of the match played tomorrow with a new team of match officials. “A thorough investigation of the incident will be opened immediately.”
PSG are already through to the round of 16 after Manchester United were beaten by Leipzig.
