La Liga launches investigation after allegation of racist abuse

La Liga has launched an official investigation into allegations that Elche player Rafa Mir directed a racist remark at Espanyol’s Moroccan player Omar El Helali during their La Liga match on Sunday evening.

El Helali informed the referee that Mir had racially abused him, saying, “you came here on a dingy,” a phrase with obvious racist connotations.

Following El Helali’s complaint, the referee immediately activated the anti-racism protocol and temporarily halted play.

The referee included the incident in his official match report, prompting La Liga to refer the case to the relevant disciplinary bodies for review.

Espanyol’s stance

A source at the Spanish club added that midfielder Urco was next to Al-Hilali and heard the remark attributed to Rafa Mir.

The source also indicated that Al-Hilali trained normally the following day and is in good condition, emphasizing that the club fully supports its player.

As the BBC reported:

Espanyol later posted a picture of 22-year-old Spain-born Morocco international El Hilali on social media with the message “with you”.

The Moroccan Federation’s stance

Following the incident, the Moroccan Football Federation issued an official statement declaring its full support for Al-Hilali, considering what happened a “blatant violation of fair play principles.”

The Moroccan Federation is monitoring the investigations launched by La Liga to ensure the player receives justice and legal redress.

As of now, no official penalty has been issued. Spanish press reports indicate that the case has been referred to the Competition Committee and the Anti-Violence and Discrimination Committee, with a decision expected in the coming days.

The case is now before La Liga’s disciplinary bodies, with anticipation surrounding the nature of the decision, especially given the increasing strictness within Spanish football regarding discrimination and racism in stadiums.

Featured image via the Canary