UEFA To Investigate Referee Racism Allegations During PSG-Basaksehir Game

Romanian referee Sebastian Coltescu during the game between Sepsi OSK Sfantu Gheorghe and FC Hermannstadt for the Romania Liga 1, Round 10, in Sfantu Gherghe, Romania, November 7, 2020 ( AA )

UEFA has opened proceedings against the Champions League match officials involved in the sending off of Istanbul Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo which sparked a player walk-off, Europe's soccer governing body said.

The match at Paris St Germain in December was halted after 13 minutes following an argument on the touchline over the red card shown to Webo and only resumed the following day after the four Romanian officials were replaced.

Webo, a former Cameroon international, said fourth official Sebastian Coltescu disrespected him by referring to him as "the Black one" or "negru" in Romanian and an investigation was conducted by a UEFA Ethics and Disciplinary Inspector.

"Proceedings have been opened against Sebastian Constantin Coltescu and Octavian Sovre for a potential violation of Article 11 of the UEFA Disciplinary Regulations," the governing body said in a statement on Thursday.

Article 11 deals with general principles of conduct and focuses on breaches such as those which bring the game into disrepute.

Players from both sides, as well as the three new on-field match officials, took a knee before the game resumed the following day with PSG winning 5-1 at the Parc de Princes.

The Turkish club's president Goksel Gumusdag called for Coltescu to be handed a life ban for the remarks.

February 11, 2021