Uefa has taken action to investigate disturbing allegations of racial abuse aimed at Aberdeen striker Pape Habib Gueye during their Europa Conference League match against PAOK Salonika. The incident occurred in the second half of the game, prompting Aberdeen to lodge an official complaint with European football’s governing body.
Pape Habib Gueye, the 24-year-old Senegal forward, was an unused substitute during the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw on Greek soil. Aberdeen acted promptly by informing the Uefa venue director about the racial abuse and later held a meeting with the match delegate to formally report the incident at the conclusion of the game.
In response to these serious allegations, PAOK Salonika has denied any wrongdoing, asserting that the claims were merely a product of imagination. They went further to state that there has never been any racist behavior within their stadium and that such behavior would not be tolerated.
Uefa, the ultimate arbiter in this matter, has announced that more information will be provided as their investigation unfolds.
Aberdeen, in a show of unwavering support for their player, issued a statement following the match, stating, “Pape has the unwavering support of his team-mates, and all at Aberdeen will liaise fully with Uefa during their investigations into this very serious matter. As a club, we have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or racist abuse. There is no place for such behavior in football, or society as a whole.”
Despite the off-field turmoil, Aberdeen found themselves eliminated from the Europa Conference League, despite Jamie McGrath’s heroics, with his free-kick securing a valuable point against PAOK Salonika. The Greek side had initially taken control of the game with goals from Taison and Mbwanna Samatta. However, a brilliant goal by Duk and McGrath’s set-piece strike from 25 yards ultimately earned the Scottish Premiership side a draw.
McGrath, speaking after the match, revealed that Gueye was deeply affected by the incident, saying, “We’re all with Pape. We have to gather round him. The boys stood up for him, I think Angus [MacDonald] was one of them. And I think Rhys [Williams] as well. If we all knew, we might have walked off, I don’t know. There was that much commotion going on. We didn’t have a clue on the pitch; we were just focused on the game. All we know is Pape did suffer some form of racist abuse.”
With Aberdeen’s elimination from the competition confirmed and their hopes of progressing to the knockout stage dashed, this incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing racism in football and society at large. Uefa’s investigation will shed more light on the matter, and it is a critical step towards ensuring that such incidents are thoroughly dealt with to maintain the integrity and inclusivity of the beautiful game.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Racial Abuse Investigation
What is the nature of the allegations against PAOK Salonika fans?
Aberdeen has alleged that PAOK Salonika fans directed racial abuse towards their striker, Pape Habib Gueye, during their Europa Conference League match. The incident occurred in the second half of the game.
How did Aberdeen respond to the alleged racial abuse?
Aberdeen took swift action by informing the Uefa venue director about the abuse and later held a meeting with the match delegate to officially report the incident at the end of the game.
What was PAOK Salonika’s response to these allegations?
PAOK Salonika has denied any wrongdoing, categorizing the claims as a product of imagination. They also asserted that there has never been any racist behavior in their stadium and that they do not tolerate such behavior.
What actions is Uefa taking in response to these allegations?
Uefa has initiated an investigation into the allegations of racial abuse. They have stated that further information will be made available as the investigation progresses.
How has Aberdeen shown support for Pape Habib Gueye?
Aberdeen issued a statement expressing unwavering support for Pape Habib Gueye. They have committed to cooperating fully with Uefa during the investigation, emphasizing their club’s zero-tolerance policy towards discrimination or racist abuse.
What was the outcome of the match between Aberdeen and PAOK Salonika?
Despite the off-field turmoil, the match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Aberdeen securing a valuable point thanks to Jamie McGrath’s free-kick. However, Aberdeen was ultimately eliminated from the Europa Conference League.
How did the incident affect Pape Habib Gueye?
According to Jamie McGrath, Gueye was deeply upset by the incident. The Aberdeen team rallied around him, with some players considering the possibility of walking off the pitch if they had been aware of the situation during the game.
What does this incident highlight in the context of football?
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the importance of addressing racism in football and society at large. It underscores the need for proactive measures to combat racial abuse and discrimination within the sport.
More about Racial Abuse Investigation
- Aberdeen’s official website: Aberdeen’s official source for news and updates on the incident.
- Uefa: The official website of the Union of European Football Associations, where you can find official statements and updates on their investigation.
- PAOK Salonika: PAOK Salonika’s official website, which may contain their responses to the allegations.
- BBC Sport: A reliable source for sports news, including coverage of the incident.
- Europa Conference League: The official page for the Europa Conference League, where you can find information about the competition and its developments.
- Jamie McGrath’s comments: BBC Sport’s coverage of Jamie McGrath’s post-match comments regarding the incident and its impact on Pape Habib Gueye.
- Combatting racism in football: The website of Kick It Out, an organization dedicated to tackling racism and discrimination in football.
5 comments
Dis a bad luk for aberdeen, elimn8d from league, hope pape get justice.
PAOK say nothin happen, aberdeen complain, who tell truth? uefa will fig out.
Not tech news but imp, footbal needs 2 fight racism, kudos to aberdeen 4 speakin out!
wow, this is a seriouz issue in footbal. pape need support, no place 4 racism in game!
Jamie McGrath spk up, pape sad, we shud all stand togeth against racism!