The two friendlies were both played in Austria and were not concluded. Fifa, already shaken by the recent episodes against Lukaku and Vinicius, intends to investigate
Still racism in the world of football. If in May the insults to Vinicius during Real Madrid’s away match in Valencia had gone around the world and provoked indignant reactions at least equal to those registered in April for the buu and the offenses against Lukaku during Juventus-Inter in the Coppa Italia, the protagonists of the two episodes today they are less famous, but what happened is just as serious and regrettable. The most unfortunate aspect is that they occurred in two friendlies, coincidentally played in Austria.
NEW ZEALAND DOES NOT RETURN
—
New Zealand-Qatar was suspended between the first and second half after the New Zealanders decided not to return to the field in protest against an alleged racist insult. “Michael Boxall was racially abused during the first half by a Qatari player. The referee did not intervene, so the team refused to return to the field for the second half,” the New Zealand football federation wrote on social media. The Qatar coach, Carlos Queiroz, explained that “the New Zealand captain came at half time to inform us that they would not be resuming the match. Apparently two players insulted each other. Who started it? Who replied? The only the two of them know. There are no witnesses and the referee didn’t hear. Nor did the benches hear. It was an argument between two players.” Granted that Fifa and its president Infantino want to see clearly why the world football government does not allow exceptions on the subject of racism. Certainly the two players involved will be heard, as well as the match director and his collaborators.
IRELANDAU21-KUWAIT UNDER22
—
The other incident of racism occurred between the Ireland Under-21 and Kuwait U22 national teams. In this case the match was suspended after the Irish reported racist insults against a member of their team. It was coach Jim Crawford who ordered his players off during the second half, when Ireland were winning 3-0 thanks to goals scored by Ollie O’Neill, Conor Carty and Aidomo Emakhu. The recipient of the insults was not specified. Ireland, which will not play the European Championships, was playing the last friendly match of its Austrian retreat.
June 20, 2023 (change June 20, 2023 | 00:12)
© REPRODUCTION RESERVED