October 26 – Portuguese top-flight club Vitoria Guimaraes has been fined €55,000 and ordered to play three matches behind closed doors because of racist abuse by fans towards Porto’s Malian international Moussa Marega.
The incident occurred back in February when Merega, who used to play for Guimaraes, was forced to leave the pitch in the 71st minute of a Portuguese Championship game – nine minutes after scoring what would prove the winner in Porto’s 2-1 victory.
He pointed his thumbs down and also raised his middle fingers to the crowd. Team-mates and opposition players tried to persuade him to stay on, but he was eventually substituted.
In an Instagram post immediately afterwards, Marega said the home supporters “who come to the stadium to make racist screams” were “idiots”.
The ruling will be enforced as soon as the public is re-admitted to Portuguese stadiums.
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