Senegalese goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr, who suffered racial abuse in the Spanish third division over the weekend, has been handed a two-game ban by the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) disciplinary committee on Wednesday.
Sarr, who plays for Rayo Majadahonda, was shown a red card in the 84th minute of their third-division league match against Sestao River Club last Saturday after he confronted an opposition fan who approached him just to deliver racial insults.
The game was suspended in the 84th minute after the altercation first led to Sarr being expelled by the referee, who was too far away to hear the alleged insults, and this led to his teammates leaving the pitch in protest as they refused to continue the game.
Rayo Majadahonda have been fined, deducted three points and awarded a 3-0 defeat for the incidents at Sestao River Club on Saturday.
Meanwhile Cheikh Sarr, who alleges he was racially abused, has been banned for two matches for aggressively confronting a fan. pic.twitter.com/KDWVzFIIzV
— Football España (@footballespana_) April 3, 2024
The RFEF’s disciplinary committee also sanctioned the 23-year-old’s team, Rayo Majadahonda, hitting them with an automatic 3-0 loss for walking off and awarding all three points to the home team, Sestao.
Sestao, who were leading 2-1 at the Campo Municipal de Las Llanas before the game was suspended, also received sanctions, despite their denial of any racial insults taking place.
However, they have been handed a two-match stadium ban as they will have to play their next two matches behind closed doors, as well as a €6,001 ($6,496) fine after the disciplinary committee proved that there was indeed racially discriminatory behavior directed at Sarr by the home supporters and the team failed “to act diligently or cooperate in the repression of violent, racist, xenophobic, or intolerant behavior.”
