Teammates appear to stop FC Porto’s Moussa Marega leaving field after racist slurs

Teammates attempted to stop Moussa Marega leaving the pitch after he was subjected to racist taunts.

FC Porto's Malian forward Moussa Marega attempts to leave the pitch after hearing racist chants. Picture: AFP

FC Porto striker Moussa Marega, who tried to walk off the field after being the target of racist slurs from fans, faced apparent attempts by his own teammates and opposition players to prevent him from leaving.

Marega, who is black and from Mali, was visibly angered by monkey noises targeting him after he scored Porto’s second goal in a 2-1 win at Vitoria Guimaraes in the Portuguese football league.

Marega abandona o relvado no D. Afonso Henriques contra a vontade de colegas e equipa técnica#LigaNOS #VSCFCP
🎥⏱ https://t.co/q8tCRvjMxS pic.twitter.com/vRd7LfTtme

— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) February 16, 2020

But when Marega started to walk off the field, several players from both Porto and Guimaraes appeared to argue with him. Porto coach Sergio Conceicao also went on the field and spoke with Marega.

Marega gestures to the crowd after he was subjected to racist taunts. Picture: AFP

It took Marega several minutes to leave the field when he was substituted. Marega held his thumbs down at the crowd as he went into the tunnel to the changing rooms. The crowd responded with loud jeers.

The attitude of the other players has drawn criticism on social media.

“We are indignant with what has happened. Moussa was insulted from warm-ups (before kick-off),” Conceicao said after the match.

“We are a family. One’s nationality, colour, or height does not matter. We are human beings. We deserve respect and what happened was despicable.”

Marega later posted a message on Instagram calling the supporters who targeted him as “idiots”.

“I’d also like to show my thanks to the referee who did not defend me and who gave me a yellow card for defending the colour of my skin. I hope I never meet you on a football pitch ever again. You are a disgrace,” he said.

Porto’s director of communications Francisco Marques added on his own Twitter account: “Marega was fed up and left the pitch and Porto was forced to make a substitution due to racism.” Portuguese newspaper A Bola reported that no Porto players spoke to the media after the game in solidarity with Marega.

Vitoria coach Ivo Vieira said he did not want to comment on the incident as he was not certain what had happened.

Marega attempts to leave the pitch after hearing racists chants, but is stopped by coach Sergio Conceicao. Picture: AFP

Marega received a yellow card following his goal in the 61st minute when he appeared to respond to the slurs by pointing at his skin and by picking up a seat that had been thrown on the pitch.

Porto are second in the Portuguese top flight, trailing leaders Benfica by a point after 21 games.

Reuters, AP