Juan Cala denies racial abuse of Mouctar Diakhaby in Cádiz-Valencia match

Cádiz defender Juan Cala has denied that he racially abused Valencia player Mouktar Diakhaby during last Sunday’s LaLiga fixture between the clubs.

The Valencia team walked off the pitch during their LaLiga meeting with Cádiz after an incident between Diakhaby and Cala occurred.

“I am in a state of shock, I am being accused of something I know nothing of. There was a clash between us, and I told him to ‘leave me in peace’. I don’t know what Diakhaby thought he heard if he misheard or has invented something. I just told him to leave me in peace,” Cala said in a statement on Tuesday.

“Things are said on the pitch, I am a centre-back and have been involved in thousands of clashes in games. It is normal, part of football. But I would never, ever cross the red line I am being accused of. All I said was to ‘leave me in peace’, then I tried not to get involved in the pushing and shoving as I did not want to get a second yellow card, which I thought they were trying to get for me.

“This has all become a circus. I will take legal action against all the people who have tried to play with my honour. My lawyers are compiling the information.”

Diakhaby released a video on Tuesday saying that he was racially insulted and called ‘negro de mierda’ (black shit).

“I would have no problem sitting down with Diakhaby and I could explain to him that I did not say that,” Cala added.

“I could tell him that there is no racism in Spanish football, between players. Each team has five or six players of colour. I am in favour of supporting the fight against racism, but for me there is no racism between players in Spanish football.”

More European Football News