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Seko Fofana is the player at the centre of the row. EMPICS Sport

Manchester City game called off over 'racism'

The club’s under-21 side walked off the pitch after Seko Fofana was allegedly abused.

MANCHESTER CITY’S UNDER-21 team walked off the pitch during a friendly against Croatian side HNK Rijeka after one of their players was racially abused, the club has claimed.

“Manchester City’s EDS (elite development squad) U21 game with HNK Rijeka has today been cancelled due to an alleged incident of racial abuse toward the club’s young midfielder, Seko Fofana by a member of the opposing team,” read a statement published on the City website late on Tuesday.

“Club representatives in Croatia and in Manchester are liaising with officials, the match organisers and the Croatian Football Association to pursue this matter further.”

City’s officials told their players to leave the pitch shortly before half-time during the game in Novigrad, west Croatia.

Fofana, a 19-year-old Frenchman, had just been sent off for what City’s Twitter feed described as an “off-the-ball incident”.

HNK Rijeka, who were leading 1-0 when the match was abandoned, expressed surprise over City’s decision to abandon the game.

“Manchester City coach Patrick Vieira entered the field, discussed something with the referee, and then to the amazement of a well-filled stadium, took his team off the pitch,” youth-team coordinator Ranko Buketa told the club’s website. “The reasons are known only to him.”

- © AFP, 2014 

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    Mute Kevin O'Malley Jnr
    Favourite Kevin O'Malley Jnr
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    Jul 23rd 2014, 12:29 PM

    Patrick Viera isn’t the type of chap to take such a stance during a football match unless it was a terrible instance of racial abuse towards his young player. Good man Viera, look out for your boys and take no sh**e. No man deserves to listen to that level of stupidity and ignorance while having a kickabout.

    It’s caused by a poorly educated, thick and mindless minority, but this is another small step toward banishing racism from football.

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    Mute Rhomas Teddy
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    Jul 23rd 2014, 12:59 PM

    What stupid idiots red thumbed this???

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    Mute Graham Kavanagh
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    Jul 23rd 2014, 12:38 PM

    Again, fine the abused English players, fine City for not seeing the game out, and send a no name PR guy to a school to say racism is no good. Should do the job. Well Done Fifa, Uefa. Even the reaction of the Croatian club, surprised says it all….. what chance is there of stamping out racism….

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    Mute Kevin O'Malley Jnr
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    Jul 23rd 2014, 12:46 PM

    Whatever is done is better than doing nothing at all. There is no easy way to tackle racism and there will always be elements of it in certain parts of the world and the sport. But sometimes you have to make a stand for what’s right and that’s what Viera did. He was spot on, a 19yr old kid being subjected to that is not on. Period.

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    Mute Adrian Costigan
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    Jul 23rd 2014, 5:40 PM

    Spot on Patrick Viera! People applauded Danny Alves for eating a banana last season, this type of action is much more effective. Imagine if this happened during a champions league match.

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    Mute Twenty
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    Jul 23rd 2014, 6:07 PM

    Adrian as right as Alves was he actually got booked for doing so by the Ref which makes the whole matter worse because the waste of space that threw it gets away with it !!

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