Paris St-Germain (PSG) and Istanbul Basaksehir players took a knee around the centre circle in an anti-racism message before the restart of their Champions League tie. The fixture was abandoned at 0-0 after the fourth official was accused of using a racist term towards Basaksehir assistant Pierre Webo. The incident happened just 14 minutes into the Group H tie, which was still goalless at PSG's Parc des Princes stadium.
Both sets of players walked off the pitch with the game delayed by a day. "It was something very new," said Fare (Football Against Racism in Europe) executive director Piara Powar. “Basaksehir and PSG players walking off the pitch will act as a ‘marker’ in football's fight against racism.
"This is the first time we've seen this happen in open play and I think it signifies a marker. Many Black players are now saying we may have put up with this in the past and seen things which racialised us unfairly in the past, but now we will take the power we have and use it and walk off, which is within their right."
The game restarted with a Basaksehir free-kick in the 14th minute. Webo - who had been sent off - was allowed to take his place on the away bench, with his red card suspended while Uefa investigates the whole incident and a new set of officials were in charge for the game’s restart, with Dutchman Danny Makkelie appointed referee.
Both sets of players and the officials - who also took a knee during the Champions League anthem - wore 'no to racism' T-shirts in the warm-up, with anti-racism banners in the stands. PSG needed a win to finish top of their group, and above RB Leipzig. The eventual final score was 5-0 to the French club.
