GETAFE have been ordered to partially close their central stand for three matches by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) following the racist and xenophobic abuse suffered by Sevilla manager Quique Sanchez Flores and player Marcos Acuna in Saturday’s LaLiga game.
Referee Iglesias Villanueva stopped the match in the 68th minute as part of LaLiga’s protocol against racism after he heard fans in the stands calling the Argentine defender a “monkey” and the Spanish coach a “gypsy”.
The club have also been fined 27,000 euros ($29,000).
The RFEF said in a statement that the closed area in the stands must display a visible message condemning violent, racist, xenophobic and intolerant acts in football and support fair play.
Real Madrid’s Brazil winger Vinicius Jr, who has suffered several incidents of racist abuse in Spain, spoke out in support of those affected.
“Racists must be exposed and matches cannot continue with them in the stands. We will only have victory when the racists leave the stadiums and go straight to jail, the place they deserve,” he posted on social media.
There were 16 such episodes against 23-year-old Vinicius Jr reported to Spanish prosecutors by LaLiga in the last two seasons.
