Shakhtar Donetsk’s star midfielder, Taison, was sent off in a Ukrainian league game for reacting to racist abuse which he and teammate, fellow Brazilian Dentinho, received from the visiting Dynamo Kyiv fans.
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With Shakhtar leading Dynamo 1-0 in the 74th minute, Taison reacted with a middle finger high in the air before booting the ball into the stands.
Dentinho had first reported racist insults to the referee earlier in the game, at which point an announcement was made inside the stadium. After further racist abuse Taison’s reaction, the referee halted the game and took the players off the field for five minutes, as directed by UEFA’s three-step protocol for racist abuse inside stadiums. The third step would have been to abandon the game.
UEFA's 3 step protocol on racist abuse from fans isa joke man
— ㅤ🇨🇩🇸🇱 (@7Flavs) November 10, 2019
Look at Taison and Dentinho crying man 😔😔
Taison getting a red card for reacting :(https://t.co/wr0ddxik4h
Taison was still sent off when the players took too the field once again. The 31-year-old left the field in tears after having been abused for much of the game. Taison was then seen being consoled by a pair of Dynamo players as he walked off the field.
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A graphic from Dinamo fans mocking a club campaign. “Like to Racism” it says.
— Fare (@farenet) November 10, 2019
In 2015 #Kiev were sanctioned by UEFA for an awful physical attack on African fans at a Champions League match against Chelsea. Since then ‘Say no to racism’ has replaced a sponsor on match-day shirts. pic.twitter.com/y830c3V9K8