City’s U-21s blow whistle on racism

City's Patrick Vieira pulled his U-21 team off the pitch during a friendly against HNK Rijeka after one of his players was racially abused.

City's Patrick Vieira pulled his U-21 team off the pitch during a friendly against HNK Rijeka after one of his players was racially abused.

Published Jul 23, 2014

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London – Manchester City’s U-21 team walked off the pitch during a friendly against Croatian side HNK Rijeka after one of their players was racially abused, the club has claimed.

“Manchester City’s EDS (elite development squad) U21 game with HNK Rijeka has today been cancelled due to an alleged incident of racial abuse toward the club’s young midfielder, Seko Fofana by a member of the opposing team,” read a statement published on the City website late on Tuesday.

“Club representatives in Croatia and in Manchester are liaising with officials, the match organisers and the Croatian Football Association to pursue this matter further.”

City’s officials told their players to leave the pitch shortly before half-time during the game in Novigrad, west Croatia.

Fofana, a 19-year-old Frenchman, had just been sent off for what City’s Twitter feed described as an “off-the-ball incident”.

HNK Rijeka, who were leading 1-0 when the match was abandoned, expressed surprise over City’s decision to abandon the game.

“Manchester City coach Patrick Vieira entered the field, discussed something with the referee, and then to the amazement of a well-filled stadium, took his team off the pitch,” youth-team co-ordinator Ranko Buketa told the club’s website.

“The reasons are known only to him.” – Sapa-AFP

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