THE ROMANIAN fourth official who caused the unprecedented walk-off by players of both sides PSG’s Champions League game with Istanbul Basaksehir faces a 10-GAME ban.
Uefa have confirmed their anti-racism rulebook applies to match officials as well as players.
Sebastian Coltescu is facing a 10-game ban for his alleged racist comment
And that leaves Sebastian Coltescu staring at a lengthy ban in addition to the long-term damage to his reputation after his comments to Basaksehir’s Cameroonian assistant coach Pierre Webo.
Former Chelsea and West Ham striker Demba Ba led the furious protests at Coltescu’s comments as he urged fellow Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan to dismiss Webo from the bench.
Both sides agreed to walk off in protest after just 14 minutes of the game.
Uefa agreed to remove Coltescu from his duties but the Turkish champions refused to play on after being told the Romanian was being instead moved to duties in the VAR booth.
The match was finally abandoned more than two hours later with Uefa confirming it would restart this evening, at 5.55pm, to play out the remaining 76 minutes with a different set of match officials in charge.
Uefa also confirmed that a “thorough investigation on the incident that took place will be opened immediately”.
Webo, right, was the victim of Coltescu’s alleged racial abuse
Demba Ba led the protests as the players walked off in solidarity
That makes disciplinary action against Coltescu almost inevitable, with the ban laid down in Uefa statutes.
However, officials at Uefa’s Nyon headquarters have been made aware of Coltescu’s concerning personal past.
Uefa have been informed of reports in the Romanian media that Coltescu has previously attempted to take his own life after sustained criticism of his performances in domestic football and recognises it has a duty of care towards him.
According to Romanian publicition ProSport, Coltescu has spoken to family relatives insisting he has been misinterpreted.
Reported by Marca, he said: “I just try to be good.
“I’m not going to read any news sites these next few days.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I’m not racist! At least that’s what I hope.”
Liverpool legend John Barnes defended the fourth official adding it was ‘not racist to describe the offender as the black one.’
Demba Ba accuses official of racism as Istanbul Basaksehir leave pitch against PSG in protest
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
