The international football match between the last World Cup hosts Qatar and New Zealand in Vienna was not continued after half-time because of an alleged racist derailment.
The New Zealand FA said Monday night on Twitter that international Michael Boxall had been racially insulted by a Qatari player during the first half of the game.
“In the absence of any official action, the team has no longer agreed to play in the second half,” it said. New Zealand led 1-0 at that point.
Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz later explained that the New Zealand captain came to him at half-time to tell him the All Whites were not going to continue the game.
Qatar national coach speaks of “exchange of words”
“Apparently there was an exchange of words between two players on the field,” said the Portuguese Queiroz to the Qatari sports channel “Alkass”: “The New Zealand players decided to support their teammates. Our entire team decided to support our player.”
The referee did not hear the verbal exchange of blows, Queiroz continued, “the benches, the coaches, nobody heard anything. It was just an argument between two players.”
He expects the world governing body FIFA to investigate the incident, said Qatar’s national coach.