La Liga side rightly left the pitch against Cádiz over alleged racial abuse, so why did they end up coming back on?
Every time the camera focused on Mouctar Diakhaby sitting in the stands, and Juan Cala still on the pitch, it felt worse. An opportunity lost, everything the wrong way round. On Sunday afternoon Valencia became the first top-level team in Spain to walk off the pitch in protest at alleged racist abuse suffered by their player, only to turn and come back on again.
Now the game, which no longer felt like a game, had started again – without the abused and with the alleged abuser. Diakhaby sat in silence, arms crossed, the mask over his face not really hiding anything. Below him, they played football and he didn’t.
Related: Valencia walk off against Cádiz after Diakhaby accuses opponent of racist abuse
Related: Alguacil unable to contain passion as Real Sociedad quench trophy thirst | Sid Lowe
Related: Serse Cosmi returns from wilderness to restore pride at struggling Crotone | Nicky Bandini
Valencia have called on Spain's footballing authorities to do more to tackle racism following the alleged abuse of their player Mouctar Diakhaby on Sunday.
Continue reading...