The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) said on Wednesday that Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Kane Sarr of Rayo Majadahonda has been suspended for two games for confronting a rival fan that he claimed was harassing him racially during a third-division match in Spain.
Furthermore, the squad was ruled out of their 3-0 loss to Sestao River on Saturday, docked three league points, and fined 3006 euros ($3,254.00) for their refusal to go on after the incident.
Sestao River was fined 6,001 euros by the RFEF Competition Committee in addition to being mandated to play two home games behind closed doors for “failing to act diligently or cooperate in the repression of violent, racist, xenophobic, or intolerant behaviour.”
The two penalties, which come on the heels of Getafe’s order to partially close their central stand for three games due to racist and xenophobic abuse directed at Sevilla manager Quique Sanchez Flores and player Marcos Acuna during Saturday’s La Liga match, will intensify the ongoing discussion about racism in Spanish football.
In the 84th minute of his game, Sarr was sent off for a red card after he charged fans of calling him a “monkey” from the stands.
The 23-year-old was restrained by other players, but the game was abandoned because his teammates wouldn’t let him play any more.
Although Sarr’s response was deemed “contrary to good sporting order” by the RFEF, it was determined that his actions were a minor offense because of “mitigating circumstances” and that they “justified sufficient provocation, motivated by the racist insults received.”
According to their Security Officer Rafa Guadix, who spoke with radio station COPE on Tuesday, the Basque club denied that any racial remarks had been spoken. The Sestao supporter who had been approached by Sarr filed accusations of assault against the goalie.
Referee Iglesias Villanueva interrupted Getafe’s match against Seville in the 68th minute as part of La Liga’s anti-racism protocol when he overheard supporters calling the Spanish coach a gypsy and the Argentine defender a monkey. Getafe was then given a penalty. Additionally, the club was fined 27,000 euros, or $29,000.
In a statement, the RFEF stated that a visible message opposing violent, racist, xenophobic, and intolerant behavior in football and promoting fair play must be shown in the closed section of the stands during the aforementioned matches.
Vinicius Jr., a Brazilian winger for Real Madrid who has experienced multiple instances of racial abuse in Spain, spoke out in favor of those impacted.
“Matches cannot go on with racers in the stands; they must be revealed. “We won’t consider ourselves successful until the racists vacate the stadiums and go straight to prison, where they belong,” he wrote on social media.
In the previous two seasons, LaLiga reported 16 such incidents involving the 23-year-old to Spanish prosecutors.