“It’s a shame” – Alejandro Balde calls out RACISM in La Liga as Barcelona play out draw against Getafe

Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde was a target of racial abuse by Getafe fans during a tense 1-1 La Liga draw between the two sides.

“It’s a shame” – Alejandro Balde calls out RACISM in La Liga as Barcelona play out draw against Getafe

Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde called out racism during match against Getafe. (via BBC)

FC Barcelona full-back Alejandro Balde confirmed that he was subjected to racial abuse during the club’s La Liga encounter against Getafe. The left-back was a target of racist slurs and chants from Getafe fans, as the match ended 1-1.

The Catalan giants, who had enjoyed a brilliant start to the season, are now enduring a slump. Barcelona dropped to the third position on the La Liga table in December. They have won just one out of their last eight league matches. Against 16th-placed Getafe, Jules Kounde‘s ninth-minute goal helped them take an early lead. However, the Catalan giants failed to hold on to their lead, conceding a 34th-minute equalizer.

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The match was marred by controversy as Barcelona youngster Alejandro Balde, who started the match against Getafe, complained of vile racist abuse. In his 100th Barca appearance, the 21-year-old revealed that he was racially abused by Getafe supporters at the Estadio Coliseum. He added that he informed referee Pablo Fuertes of the incident, and urged him to activate La Liga’s protocol against racist chanting.

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I was subjected to racist abuse in the first half. It shouldn’t happen anymore… I told the referee and he activated the protocol. Now we have to try to forget it.

Alejandro Balde to reporters (via Marca)

The La Liga protocol allows a referee to halt a match if they observe racist behavior or are alerted by a player of any such incident. The match can also be abandoned if the racist behavior does not stop. Referee Fuetes’ post-match report stated that the security forces inside the stadium were alerted of the incident at half-time and were asked to take necessary measures.

This is not the first time that such an unfortunate incident has taken place in the Spanish league. There have been multiple cases of racist insults in recent years. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr. has been repeatedly targeted at times.

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Getafe fans mock Barcelona president Joan Laporta during heated La Liga encounter

Barcelona’s 1-1 La Liga draw against Getafe was a feisty one. The Catalan club dropped crucial points in their race to the league title. Club president Joan Laporta was among those annoyed after the match, as he was also targeted by a section of Getafe supporters.

Barcelona Joan Laporta mocked by fans
Barcelona president Joan Laporta was mocked by Getafe fans, over the club’s financial issues. (via Marca)

Barca president Laporta has been subjected to intense criticism over the club’s financial setbacks and player registration issues. At the Estadio Coliseum in Getafe, he was jeered by a section of home fans. They mockingly asked Laporta to sell them a ‘box’. This was in reference to the Catalan club having sold out VIP boxes at Camp Nou.

Moreover, Barcelona might register a complaint against Getafe over the offensive chants. This could result in fans being barred from their home matches for a while. It remains to be seen what lies ahead for the club’s supporters.