New Zealand abandoned its football friendly against Qatar at halftime in Austria on Monday after accusing a Qatari player of making a racist comment to defender Michael Boxall.
New Zealand abandoned its football friendly against Qatar at halftime in Austria on Monday after accusing a Qatari player of making a racist comment to defender Michael Boxall.
New Zealand abandoned its football friendly against Qatar at halftime in Austria on Monday after accusing a Qatari player of making a racist comment to defender Michael Boxall.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Football New Zealand said the team refused to play the second half when the referee declined to take action.
New Zealand was leading 1-0 in Ritzing.
The incident happened after Qatar was awarded a free kick. The New Zealanders complained Qatar바카라s Yousuf Abdurisag made a racist comment to Boxall, who is of Samoan heritage.
After a melee between the teams in the 40th minute, New Zealand captain Joe Bell complained to referee Manuel Schuttengruber, who shook his head, indicating he would not take action against the Qatar player.
바카라We fully support the action of our players, who agreed collectively this course of action,바카라 New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell said in a statement. 바카라We never want to see a match abandoned but some issues are bigger than football and it is important to make a stand.바카라
Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz said on the television broadcast of the match that he had not heard the comment.
바카라The facts are the following. Apparently two players on the pitch exchanged words,바카라 Queiroz said. 바카라The New Zealand players decided to support their teammate just as our team decided to support our player.
바카라They decided to abandon the game with no witnesses. The referee did not listen (to what was said). It바카라s just an argument between two players.
바카라It바카라s a new chapter in football which is, for sure, something nobody can understand. Let바카라s let the football authorities make a decision. This game will be under observation from FIFA for sure.바카라
The New Zealand Professional Footballers바카라 Association said it stood by the New Zealand players.
바카라We have contacted the team and will work with NZ Football to support the players in any way required,바카라 the NZPFA said. 바카라There is no room for racism in our sport.바카라