Cadiz Condemn Racism But Defend Squad After Valencia Accusations
Valencia's Mouctar Diakhaby alleged he was racially abused during Sunday's game with Cadiz, who have condemned any form of racism.
Sunday's LaLiga meeting – which ultimately finished 2-1 to Cadiz – was stopped for 20 minutes after Valencia's players decided to leave the field following an altercation between Diakhaby and Juan Cala, who opened the scoring.
Gabriel Paulista and Los Che goalscorer Kevin Gameiro attempted to defuse the situation before Diakhaby explained his version of events to referee David Medie Jimenez.
Valencia's players subsequently walked off the pitch, before returning to the field without Diakhaby, who asked to be taken off.
After the match had restarted, Valencia tweeted their version of events, stating Diakhaby had suffered a "racist insult".
Following the game, Cadiz issued a statement on their club website, insisting any form of racism was not tolerated.
However, they also added they had no doubts over the honesty of their squad, with Cala having been picked up by television cameras pleading his innocence during the game.
Cadiz's statement read: "We are against any situation of racism or xenophobia, whoever its author is, and we work for its eradication.
"All the perpetrators of these crimes, whether or not they are from our team, must pay for it.
"We do not doubt the honesty of all the members of our squad, who are firm defenders of the fight against racism, whose attitude has always been exemplary in all the matches that have been played.
"We always demand an attitude of respect and responsibility towards the opponents. We work and we will continue working so that in our football there are no xenophobic behaviors, with a 'NO TO RACISM' with all its forcefulness."
Valencia captain Jose Luis Gaya said that the team had been told they would be penalized if they did not return to finish the game – a claim backed up by head coach Javi Gracia.
"If we didn’t play, they [would have] sanctioned us," Gracia, who reiterated that Diakhaby had been abused, told reporters.
"They told us that if we did not play we would have a very serious sanction. It was a very serious racist insult."
