Rotterdammer Ricardo Moniz has been suspended for a month by the Hungarian Football Association. The trainer of Zalaegerszegi TE made a statement against racism on Saturday. He not only had to pay for his action with a red card, he is also no longer allowed to coach his team this calendar year.
Last Saturday, Ricardo Moniz stepped onto the field after a packed out box of opponent Honvéd was constantly making monkey noises when the black players of Zalaegerszegi TE came to the ball. “I asked the fourth official a few times to stop this,” Moniz explained to this newspaper before. “But he didn’t hear anything,” he said. Then I went two meters into the field. I got a red card from the referee for that. My whole group was behind me.”
The 58-year-old trainer was facing a suspension of one month to two years. Sports director Attila Dragóner of Zalaegerszegi TE is disappointed with the decision, he says via the official channels of the club. “We regret that Ricardo Moniz will not be able to sit on the bench for the next four games, but I can say that the players and staff of the club are behind the head coach and we believe we will get out of this.”
Moniz now misses the last four games of the year. He also misses the duel with Ferencváros, where he worked ten years ago.
It was not the first time in his career that Moniz had to deal with racism in a stadium. Three years ago he was trainer of Excelsior when Ahmad Mendes Moreira stepped off the field after jungle sounds from the stands at FC Den Bosch.
Free unlimited access to Showbytes? Which can!
Log in or create an account and don’t miss out on any of the stars.