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.
Demolition with a 1-0 lead for New Zealand
“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.
“Apparently there was an exchange of words between two players on the field,” Portuguese Queiroz told Qatari sports channel Alkass: “The New Zealand players decided to support their teammate. Our entire team decided to support our player.”
Queiroz awaits FIFA reaction
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.