FOOTBALL – Last week ended with controversy in the Cadiz v Valencia game. That was only on Sunday, but much has happened in the world of football this week already.
Cadiz said Juan Cala would make a statement after training on Tuesday. As reported by Talk Sport, he strenuously denied racially abusing Mouctar Diakhaby. The Cadiz defender is alleged to have called Valencia´s Diakhaby mierda del negro (translated “a shitty black”) during the first half of the La Liga game on Sunday.
Mouctar Diakhaby
On Tuesday, Diakhaby posted a video on social media in which he detailed the alleged abuse, stating Cala had called him a ‘black s***’. He described the remarks as ‘intolerable’ and declared it ‘cannot happen in normal life and especially in football, which is a sport of respect’. He also called for the Spanish league to take action.
Juan Cala
Cala, however, has angrily denied the allegations of racial abuse. In an extraordinary press conference hosted by Cadiz, he claimed he had been subjected to a ‘public lynching’. “I never said black s***. I didn’t say it to him and that’s clear,” Cala insisted. “Everything he says is false. If there is any Cadiz player who has said that I was going to apologise, I’ll quit football. This is a media lynching. “Either he made it up or he understood something else when I said ‘leave me alone’.
“It´s been a circus”
“The best thing would have been to get me and (Diakhaby) together in a room to explain what happened. Instead, it’s been a circus. I was judged before the game was over.
“Nobody from Valencia told me anything. I have been a professional for 12 years. I have lived together with Chinese, Africans, South Americans…I’ve shared a dressing room with Benjamin, Kanoute…”
Cala, who says he has received threats on social media, maintained he will fight to defend his reputation. “I will take legal action against all the people who have tried to play on my honour. My lawyer is gathering information,” he added. “I have the full support of the club and it will take measures against the entire institution or person that damages the image of Cadiz.”
“We don´t believe you”
The denial prompted a strong response from Valencia CF. In an official tweet from the club, they said “Juan Cala, we don’t believe you”.
OFFICIAL STATEMENT |
JUAN CALA, WE DON'T BELIEVE YOU #YoCreoAMouctarDiakhaby— Valencia CF 🦇🍊🌊 (@valenciacf_en) April 6, 2021
Messi
In other news, Messi has now broken the record for the number of appearances for Barcelona. He was honoured ahead of Monday´s game against Real Valladolid when he would make his 768th appearance for the club. He was pictured with his teammates and also with his wife and children at Camp Nou with a framed commemorative shirt marking the occasion. As reported by the club, Sergio Busquets, Gerard Piqué and Sergi Roberto, his fellow team captains, presented him with the shirt signed by all his team-mates. And it was a very special shirt – the one from the 2003/04 season in which Messi made his first team debut.
La Liga
Barcelona won 1-0 with a last-minute goal from Dembele to put them 2nd in La Liga and within 1 point of leaders Atletico Madrid.
Atletico and Barcelona´s next games are away. Furthermore, Barcelona plays first on April 10, if they win this will put them ahead giving them the psychological advantage. However, they are away to 3rd place Real Madrid. The three potential of 3 points in this game is massive for both clubs. Atletico play the following evening and will therefore know what they must do to remain top.
Champions League
Real Madrid v Liverpool was an action-packed game from start to finish. Real Madrid opened the score line with 2 goals in the first half. The second half saw both teams score. The final result was 3-1. Two goals were scored by Junior for Real Madrid in the 27th and 65th minute. Asensio also scored for the Madrid side in the 36th minute. The only goal for Liverpool came in the 51st minute by Salah.
UEFA Cup action
Thursday sees some more UEFA cup action with;
- Arsenal v Slavia Praha
- Granada v Manchester United
- Dinamo Zagreb v Villarreal
