Barcelona's Alejandro Balde reports racist abuse during Getafe draw
The incident occurred at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez stadium, further derailing Barcelona's title hopes under manager Hansi Flick.
Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde has spoken out about racist abuse he faced from Getafe supporters during their 1-1 draw in La Liga on 18 January.
The incident occurred at the Coliseum Alfonso Pérez stadium, further derailing Barcelona's title hopes under manager Hansi Flick. Speaking to Movistar after the match, Balde addressed the abuse he endured.
"I received various racist insults from some fans today, and I think it's important to speak about this," said Balde. "This is something that should not continue happening."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Balde said he reported the abuse to the match referee, who promptly activated Spain's anti-racism protocol. This led to a stadium-wide announcement urging fans to stop the behaviour.
Manager Hansi Flick condemned the incident, calling for action against such behaviour. "There's no place for this in football or in life. It's unthinkable in this day and age," Flick said in his post-match comments.
He added, "Those shouting racist abuse should stay at home. They don't belong in the stadium. We must fight against this together, and people nearby should also take a stand."
This was not an isolated incident in Spanish football over the weekend. In Spain's second division, Elche player Bambo Diaby was also subjected to racist abuse during a 1-1 draw with Sporting Gijón earlier on the same day.
Racism has been an ongoing issue in Spanish football, with Real Madrid's Vinícius Júnior among those frequently targeted. Last November, three fans were arrested for racist insults directed at Balde and his Barcelona teammate Lamine Yamal during the Clasico against Real Madrid.
