Referee’s report on why he stopped Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad game- ‘Insults were made…’ | OneFootball

During the first leg of the Copa del Rey semi-final between Real Sociedad and Real Madrid, an unfortunate incident took place that should not be overlooked.

Acts of discrimination, whether based on race, gender, or any other factor, have no place in football or society. It is unacceptable that players continue to face such treatment, yet it happened once again during this match.

The incident occurred in the first half, prompting Carlo Ancelotti to take immediate action. He decided to make a substitution, not for tactical reasons but to protect one of his players, Raul Asencio, who had become the target of abusive chants.

The referee took note of the situation in his report, recording that some individuals in the stands directed deeply offensive remarks towards Asencio.

What did the referee say?

The referee documented the event in his official report, making it clear that the chants directed at Asencio were of a deeply offensive nature.

Real Sociedad captain Mikel Oyarzabal and Real Madrid captain Vinicius Jr. were called over by the referee to discuss the matter.

Both managers, Imanol Alguacil and Carlo Ancelotti, were also informed, along with Real Sociedad’s field delegate and a representative from the Ertzaintza police force.

Raul Asencio was targetted by Real Sociedad fans. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The match was temporarily halted, and a message was displayed on the stadium’s video screens in both Spanish and Basque, urging fans to support their teams with respect and rejecting any form of racist or intolerant behaviour.

Once the announcement was made, play resumed. However, the referee ensured that the issue was recorded in the post-match report. He noted that Vinicius had informed him in the 46th minute that his teammate Raúl Asencio was being subjected to abusive chants.

“In the 46th minute, number 7 D. Vinicius José De Oliveira Do Nascimento, captain of Real Madrid CF, tells me that his teammate number 35 D.

“Raúl Asencio Del Rosario is being insulted from behind one of the goals where there are members of the public carrying objects from the local club,” read the report from the referee.

The report confirmed that the chants included a clear and aggressive statement directed at the player, leading to the activation of the official protocol.

“The insults that were being made at that moment were heard by me shouting: “Asencio, die!”, in a choreographed manner and repeated by that section of the stands.

“Instantly activating the protocol, informing the security coordinator of the match, and everything being communicated by megaphone so that the insults would stop, without any further incident occurring,” he wrote.

The security team was eventually alerted, and the stadium’s public address system issued a warning to put an end to the abuse. No further incidents were reported after this intervention.

Source: Mundo Deportivo