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Getafe-Sevilla game marred by racist slurs against Marcos Acuna and coach Sanchez Flores

Sat, Mar 30, 2024
Soccer News (AP)

MADRID (AP) - Getafe's home game against Sevilla was paused when fans targeted Sevilla's Marcos Acuna with racial insults in the Spanish league on Saturday. Sevilla coach Quique Sanchez Flores said he also was abused racially by supporters of his former club.

Referee Javier Iglesias halted the game in the 68th minute when Acuna was insulted by fans, including calling him a "monkey," according to the match report.

The game was restarted after the spectators were informed by loudspeaker to refrain from using racist or xenophobic language. Iglesias did not record any more incidents.

But Sanchez Flores confirmed after the match his Roma heritage was insulted. Sanchez Flores has coached Getafe on three occasions.

"I am proud of every pore in my body that breathes Roma, but one thing is to be Roma and another is to be insulted for it," Sanchez Flores said. "There are some fans who think they can say anything they want at a stadium. It is happening in every stadium.

"We are workers who come here to work in peace and be respected. It is an aberration that in these times when we are advancing in so many ways that (these individuals) grab us and pull us backwards."

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Sevilla denounced the insults to its player and coach.

Acuna helped Argentina win the World Cup in 2022.

The incidents came four days after Spain played Brazil in Madrid in a friendly that was set up to highlight the fight against racism after insults aimed at Real Madrid and Brazil forward Vinicius Junior.

Vinicius has been highly critical of the inability of soccer authorities to take effective action to protect him and other players.

Sevilla won the game at Getafe 1-0.

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