Rediff.com« Back to articlePrint this article

Neymar target of racist chants: Iniesta

January 03, 2016 13:56 IST

neymar

IMAGE: Espanyol v Barcelona - Spanish Liga BBVA -Cornella-El Prat stadium in Cornella de Llobregat, Spain - 2/1/16 Barcelona's Neymar (R) and Espanyol' Alvaro Gonzalez in action. REUTERS/Stringer

Barcelona star Neymar was subjected to allegedly racist chants during Saturday draw at local rivals Espanyol, his teammate Andres Iniesta confirmed.

Though manager Luis Enrique declined to comment on the chants, Neymar's teammates called for the individuals responsible to be punished.

Iniesta told reporters after the game that he had heard racist chanting "in one corner, in the first half, from one supporter."

Former Barca board member Toni Freixa tweeted after the game, "I trust that the racist chants which Neymar was subjected to have been carefully noted in the referee's report."

A small group of fans could allegedly be heard making monkey chants toward the 23-year-old Brazilian.

Referee Jose Luis Gonzalez Gonzalez did not include any notes on the racist chants in his post-match report, according to ESPN FC.

Defender Gerard Pique called for the violator(s) to be 'singled out one by one' and punished 'if that happened.'

It’s unclear whether any other players — including Neymar, who has not commented on the issue — heard the alleged chants.

 

AGENCIES