Unwarranted attention: Qatar backs footballer in racist line | Soccer News

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New Zealand have accused Qatars Abdurisag of using racial slurs against a player of Samoan descent during a friendly match.

The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has hit back at allegations of racism against one of its players in a match against New Zealand which led to the game being abandoned at half-time.

With New Zealand leading 1-0 in the friendly in Austria on Monday, a scrum took place between players from both sides in the 40th minute.

New Zealand captain Joe Bell complained to referee Manuel Schuttengruber, accusing Qatari Yusuf Abdurisag of using a racial slur against Michael Boxall, who is of Samoan descent.

New Zealand refused to return to the pitch after the break and, in a statement on Tuesday, New Zealand Football (NZF) said the team refused to play the second half after the referee refused to intervene.

On Wednesday, the QFA condemned the undue attention the player received and remained fully committed to supporting Abdurisag.

| Statement by HE Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, President of the Qatar Football Association, regarding the incidents during our national team’s game against New Zealand pic.twitter.com/rdeBcPvIAB

Qatar Football Association (@QFA_EN) June 20, 2023

Everyone at the QFA supports Abdurisag and strongly condemns the unwarranted attention he has received over the past 24 hours, QFA chairman Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain said in a statement.

The QFA remains fully committed to supporting Yusuf at this time.

New Zealand to refer incident to FIFA

New Zealand have accused the Qatari winger of directing a major racial slur at Boxall.

The NZF said it would contact FIFA to protect players against racism after the incident.

In a statement after the match, he said the racial slur was heard by several New Zealand players, including Boxall.

NZF CEO Andrew Pragnell said he fully supports the action of our players, who have decided to abandon the game.

There is no place for racism in football, he said.

Last week, FIFA President Gianni Infantino insisted that matches should be called off by the referee if there was a racist incident.

There is no football if there is racism. So let’s stop the games, Infantino said.

Referees have this opportunity in FIFA competitions because we have this process to stop play, and action needs to be taken at all levels, nationally as well.

Michael Boxall was racially assaulted during the first half of the game by a Qatari player.

No official action was taken, so the team agreed not to go out for the second half of the game.

New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 19, 2023

Abdurisag denies making racist remarks

On Tuesday, the Qatari federation and Abdurisag denied making racist remarks.

Abdurisag confirmed an exchange of words with an opponent in the heat of the moment but said he had made no insulting or discriminatory comments, the Qatari federation said in a statement.

During last night’s game, I was the target of racial slurs from a member of the opposing team, Abdurisag said in a separate statement.

To my shock, that same player accused me of using offensive language and the game was dropped.

In my travels around the world as a footballer, I have been the victim of racist abuse, but I have never been both victimized and accused in the same incident.

It is true that players often say things to each other in the heat of the moment, but there is a clear line that I have never crossed.

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