Porto Striker Marega storms off pitch following racist abuse but is stopped by teammates and opposition players instead of being supported.
Despite football associations around the world trying to eradicate racism from football, the disease still persists. The ugly act was at the forefront in the match between Vitoria and Porto in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on Sunday.
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Porto striker Moussa Marega tried to leave the pitch after receiving racist abuse from Vitoria fans after scoring the winner. Instead of finding support from the players on the pitch however, Marega had to be restrained instead.
Watch: Porto Striker Marega storms off pitch following racist abuse but is stopped by teammates and opposition players
Earlier in the match, Marega celebrated the 60th minute winner by pointing to the colour of his skin. This prompted monkey chants from the stands. The forward even had a chair thrown his way. He tried to make light of the situation by celebrating with the chair. However, with the abuse showing no signs of ending, he decided he had had enough.
Marega attempted to force a substitution as he walked off the pitch but he was stopped by his teammates, Vitoria players and even his coach Sergio Conceicao. They tried to persuade the player to continue but after 3 minutes of delay, he was finally allowed to come off.
The forward took to social media after the match to voice his grievance.
“I would just like to tell these idiots who come to the stadium to make racist chants, go f*** yourself. I hope I never see you on a football field again. You are a disgrace!” he wrote.
“And I also thank the referees for not defending me and for giving me a yellow card because I defend my skin colour.”
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