Valencia walk-off in match with Cadiz after alleged racist remark to Mouctar Diakhaby

Valencia’s entire team WALK OFF against Cadiz in support of Mouckar Diakhaby following alleged racist abuse to leave match suspended… but defender tells team-mates to play on amid claims they would have been PUNISHED with a loss for abandoning

  • Mouctar Diakhaby was visibly unhappy following a comment by a Cadiz player
  • The defender explained what happened to the referee before walking off
  • He left the pitch followed by his teammates, 30 minutes into the LaLiga clash
  • Diakhaby was devastated by the incident and felt he couldn’t return to the game 
  • However he urged his teammates to continue to avoid the risk of forfeiting
  • Valencia have put out a message condemning racism following the incident
  • Juan Cala has ‘strenuously denied’ allegations he racially abused Diakhaby

Valencia players walked off the pitch during their game with Cadiz after an alleged racist remark was aimed at defender Mouctar Diakhaby.

The incident happened 30 minutes into the game as Diakhaby had a clash with Cadiz defender Juan Cala which saw him receive a yellow card.

Diakhaby was visibly angry at something that was said, though Cala has since ‘strenuously denied’ allegations against him suggesting he racially abused the Valencia centre-back.

Valencia defender Mouctar Diakhaby was unhappy following a comment by a Cadiz player

Diakhaby explained his position to the referee before deciding to walk off the pitch

Diakhaby explained his position to the referee before deciding to walk off the pitch 

The match was suspended after 30 minutes when the Valencia players walked off the pitch

The match was suspended after 30 minutes when the Valencia players walked off the pitch

Diakhaby was seen shouting at Cala while he was held back by Cadiz player Fali and one of his own team-mates.  

The referee then asked for an explanation from Diakhaby before the defender then walked off the pitch just moments later, followed by the rest of his teammates. 

Sportsmail understands that Diakhaby was left devastated following the incident but Valencia have said that he asked his teammates to return to the field to complete the match. 

Speaking after the match, which was won 2-1 by Cadiz, Valencia’s captain Jose Gaya said: ‘(Diakhaby) told us he insulted him in a racist way. We went back out to play because they told us they could penalise us with three points and something more. 

‘He asked us to go back, he’s gutted, it was a very ugly insult.’

It’s believed the team would have had to forfeit the game 3-0 if they decided to not complete the match.

The rest of the Valencia players believe Diakhaby and showed this by walking off the pitch together. 

Valencia players did return onto the pitch without Diakhaby, as the club gave a statement on their official Twitter account denouncing any kind of racism.   

Valencia players would return to the pitch on the backing of Diakhaby who did not continue

Valencia players would return to the pitch on the backing of Diakhaby who did not continue

They said: ‘The team have held a meeting and decided to continue the game, in order to fight for the honour of the club, but denounce racism of any kind.

‘We offer our complete backing to @Diakhaby_5.

‘The player, who had received a racial insult, requested that his teammates return to the pitch. WE SUPPORT YOU MOUCTAR.’

Both sets of players were given five minutes to warm up before resuming the game, while Diakhaby opted to watch on from the stands. 

After the game it has been reported by Carrusel Deportivo that Cala denies having said anything offensive to Diakhaby and is in a ‘state of shock’.