(ANSA) – ROME, OCT 17 – A youth soccer team from a district of Busto Arsizio north of Milan walked off the pitch before the end of their match against nearby Gallarate Sunday in protest at a 16-year-old Moroccan team member allegedly being called a “little n**ger” by the opposing coach, the La Prealpina newspaper said Monday.
Gallarate were leading CAS Sacconago 3-1 when the alleged incident occurred, the paper reported.
The match was just minutes from the end when the Gallarate coach allegedly called the 16-year-old Moroccan a racist epithet, CAS managers told the daily.
The boy reacted and moments of tension followed before the offending coach was sent off.
“At that point the match had decidedly taken a secondary status,” said CAS coach Massimo Di Cello.
“All our team, out of solidarity with our man, decided to leave the field.
“We decided to send a signal because we think that what happened was very ugly.
“Let’s hope the (Italian Soccer) Federation takes measures”.
Gallarate’s chairman said any disciplinary action would only be based on the ref’s report and any federation recommendations.
“If someone did something wrong, they will be punished, we’re sticking to official decisions,” said the official, who was not named.
CAS said they didn’t want the match to be recorded as a 3-0 win for them due to disciplinary action and only wanted the coach to apologize to the boy. (ANSA).
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