Valencia Club de Fútbol walked off the pitch in the 36th minute of a match against Cádiz in April 2021, after Cádiz player Juan Cala insulted Valencia's Diakhaby. The incident occurred when Cala called Diakhaby 'negro de mierda'. The team left the pitch in support of their teammate.

What happened next?

Valencia returned to the pitch without Diakhaby, who was not in condition to continue playing. According to several sources, the visiting team returned to the field after the federation threatened them with severe sanctions for abandoning the game.

Why is it important for Valencia Club de Fútbol?

Valencia defended their player and denounced the racist attack on their social media. The referee conveyed to the players the potential consequences of not returning to the pitch. The players, forced to play under threat of penalty, decided to return to the pitch.

What other cases are there of abandoning the pitch?

Barça and PSG have also abandoned games in the past for similar reasons. In 2000, Barça refused to play a Copa del Rey match against Atlético de Madrid due to a dispute with the federation. In 2020, PSG and İstanbul Başakşehir abandoned a Champions League match after a racist incident.