According to reigning I-League champion Chennai City FC (CCFC), its player was allegedly racially abused by the match referee in its 3-2 defeat to Bashundhara Kings in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup here on Thursday.
“Targeted derogatory and racist remarks are extremely impudent and harmful for the person at the receiving end. Chennai City FC can confirm one of our players was racially abused by the referee in today’s Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup game against Bashundhara Kings,” CCFC said on Twitter.
It added, “[The] Club has raised the same with the AFC Match Commissioner and Bangladesh Football Federation officials.”
CCFC’s Katsumi Yusa of Japan was shown a red card after a dispute with the referee, which saw play being stopped for a considerable amount of time in the first half. Twelve minutes were added on to the opening period when coach Akbar Nawas was also sent off.
However, Bashundhara Kings officials suggested that it may be a case of misunderstanding and there was no case of racial abuse.
The result: Bashundhara Kings 3 (Jalal 6 & 88, Duishobekov 59) bt CCFC 2 (Pedro Manzi 43, Mashoor Sheriff 71).
