New Zealand to raise racism concerns with FIFA after Qatar game
abandoned
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[June 20, 2023]
(Reuters) -New Zealand Football (NZF) said it will contact
FIFA about protecting players from racism after the men's national
team abandoned a friendly against Qatar at halftime in protest at an
alleged racist slur against one of their players.
New Zealand said a Qatari opponent directed a "significant racist
slur" at All Whites defender Michael Boxall, who has Samoan
heritage, shortly before the interval.
The team said they reported the incident and then collectively
decided not to take the field after halftime because no official
action was taken.
It was one of two matches to be abandoned in Austria on Monday
following allegations of racism.
Ireland's football association said its under-21 team had abandoned
their match against Kuwait's Olympic side after a Kuwaiti player
used racist language toward an Irish substitute.
NZF boss Andrew Pragnell said his governing body fully supported the
players' stand and would contact FIFA with their concerns.
"Certainly we want to reach out to FIFA on this," he told reporters
in Auckland on Tuesday.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jun/20/images/ads/current/humanesociety_sda022411.png)
"You know they have recently established a task-force around racism,
more needs to be done to protect players from racial attacks on the
field.
"There's been some evolution, we don't think it's moving fast enough
so we want to contribute to that and so that will be one of our
first ports of call."
Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz said his squad stood by their team mate
and the incident was a matter for soccer authorities.
"Apparently two players exchanged words, and we don't know who was
first, who was second, it's only between them," the Portuguese coach
told Al-kass Sports Channels.
"The New Zealand players decided to support their team mate and we
also decided to support our player."
'LOOK AT THE RULES'
Video of the New Zealand friendly showed multiple All Whites players
remonstrating with a Qatari player shortly after a free kick was
awarded.
After a long discussion with New Zealand captain Joe Bell, referee
Manuel Schuttengruber blew for halftime with New Zealand leading 1-0
after a Marko Stamenic goal in the 16th minute.
Pragnell said NZF needed to get a better understanding of why match
officials took no action.
[to top of second column] |
![](../images/062023PIX/sports59.jpg)
Jun 10, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN;
Minnesota United defender Michael Boxall (15) dribbles the ball in
the second half against the CF Montreal at Stade Saputo. Mandatory
Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
![](../images/ads/current/graue_lda_4_2021.png)
"At the end of the day, I think when someone
receives significant racial abuse, multiple people hear it, there's
multiple witnesses to something like that and nothing can be done
then we've got a bigger problem and maybe it's time we look at the
rules," he added.
The Qatar FA said on Twitter that New Zealand had withdrawn from the
friendly, without giving any further details.
The Qatar FA, FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation did not
provide immediate comment.
Ireland's football association (FAI) said it too would be contacting
football's governing bodies over a "racist remark" made to one of
its substitutes.
"The FAI does not tolerate any racism towards any of our players or
staff and will be reporting this serious matter to FIFA and UEFA,"
the FAI said on social media.
Kuwait's FA disputed the FAI's description of events and said the
referee stopped the match because of "roughness and tension" between
the players.
"Kuwait Football Association ... categorically rejects such
accusations," it said in a statement on social media.
"The match was stopped by the referee in the 70th minute to protect
the players from potential injuries."
Europe's soccer governing body UEFA did not provide immediate
comment.
Racism has dominated football headlines in recent months.
![](http://archives.lincolndailynews.com/2023/Jun/20/images/ads/current/LPL_small%201.gif)
FIFA President Gianni Infantino announced an anti-racism committee
led by Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr, who has been the victim of
racist abuse in Spain's LaLiga.
(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne, Janina Nuno Rios in Mexico
City and Shady Amir in Cairo; Editing by Ken Ferris, Cynthia
Osterman and Peter Rutherford)
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