Section:GDN 1N PaGe:48 Edition Date:190815 Edition:01 Zone: Sent at 14/8/2019 19:41 cYanmaGentaYellowb
- The Guardian Thursday 15 Aug ust 2019
(^48) Sport
Football
Queens Park Rangers have called on
Uefa to take stronger action against
racism after their under-18 team
were forced to leave the pitch during
a recent friendly in Spain.
QPR say all 11 youth players walked
off in the second half of a match against
AD Nervión last Thursday after mem-
bers of the team were subjected to
monkey noises and racist abuse from
their opponents.
Lee Hoos, QPR’s chief executive,
said the club had been made aware
of the risk of racist behaviour before
they travelled to Spain. Working with
the anti-racist organisation Kick It Out
they devised an appropriate response
should it happen to them.
That protocol ultimately proved
necessary in Andalucia last week
and Hoos said: “We take a very
strong stance against racism and
will not tolerate one of our players
being subjected to the des picable
com ments experienced.
“I applaud [the under-18 coach]
Paul Furlong and his staff for reacting
in such a manner and doing every-
thing within their powers to protect
the players. I am also very proud
of our under-18s who showed
such maturity in the face of unaccep-
table provocation.
“Had this incident occurred in
England I have no doubts the issue
would be dealt with swiftly with a
strong punishment by the FA.
“Unfortunately, it seems some
countries have a long way to go
in this respect and I urge Uefa to
take the strongest possible action
as incidents of this nature are hap-
pening far too often.
“At QPR we must not, and will not,
stand for it,” Hoos said.
The protocol agreed with Kick it
Out meant that players fi rst informed
their coach and the match offi cials
of any abuse before Furlong ultimately
took the decision to call his players
off the pitch.
In taking collective action QPR’s
behaviour is in contrast to previous
incidents in which the victims of abuse
have been forced to leave the fi eld
alone. “We will always back players
and teams who leave the pitch after
suff ering signifi cant discriminatory
abuse, especially if they have followed
the correct protocols,” a spokesperson
for Kick it Out said.
“We have been in constant commu-
nication with the club since this inci-
dent and will continue to support all
football clubs and players in the fi ght
against discrimination in the game,”
the spokesperson added.
QPR under-18 side walk off
in Spain over racist abuse
Club demand ‘strongest
possible action’ by Uefa over
incidents in Andalucia game
QPR’s chief executive
praised the players and
staff for their actions
Paul MacInnes
Nuno to rotate squad for
‘new challenge’ of Europe
Nick Mashiter
Nuno Esp írito Santo has dismissed
fears that Wolves may be undermined
by complacency against FC Pyunik in
the Europa League tonight.
Pyunik come to Molineux trailing
4-0 from the fi rst leg of their third -
round qualifying tie. Wolves host
Manchester United in the Premier
League on Monday but Nuno insisted
his men will not switch off against their
Armenian opponents.
“We don’t have the same interpreta-
tion – it’s a new game, 0-0, let’s start
to play,” Nuno said. “They will come
with all the ambition and we have to
be focused and give a good perfor-
mance at Molineux. They started very
strong in the fi rst game, we handled
them OK and the moment we scored
we started controlling the game.
We managed it until the end but this
is a new one.”
The winners are likely to play Torino
in the fi nal play-off to reach the Europa
League group stage. The Italian club
lead 5-0 from their fi rst leg against
FC Shakhtyor of Belarus.
Nuno remained tight -lipped over
his selection but is expected to make
changes ahead of their fi rst home
match of the Premier League season
next week. The Real Madrid loanee
Jes ús Vallejo could make his debut
while Adama Traoré is available after
missing the trip to Armenia last week
because he forgot his passport.
Patrick Cutrone is also in line
for a full debut after two substitute
appearances since his move from
Milan. The £16m striker came off
the bench against Pyunik last week
and in the goalless draw at Leicester
on Sunday.
“We have to make a decision to
prepare the starting XI but having
all the squad available gives us
options and solutions ,” said Nuno.
“It’s a challenge and new reality, we
want to embrace it and really give
it a go.” PA Media
▲ Patrick Cutrone could make his full
debut tonight after joining from Milan
Football
In brief
Bolton
Administrators hopeful
of sale after latest ruling
Bolton’s administrators hope
to complete the sale of the club
unimpeded after an injunction
lodged by the would-be owner
Laurence Bassini was amended.
David Rubin and Partners is hopeful
progress can continue after the latest
legal ruling. Paul Appleton, speaking
on behalf of the administrators, said:
“I know it has been a frustrating
few days for all involved, causing
a continuing delay. Now we must
progress to completion as quickly
as possible in order to secure the
future of the club.” PA Media
Sunderland
Álvarez case ends
with £335k payout
Sunderland have paid out more
than £335,000 to the Argentinian
club Vélez Sarsfi eld to settle their
claim over Ricky Álvarez following
a lengthy legal wrangle. The League
One side handed over €362,500
under the Fifa solidarity mechanism,
which compensates clubs who have
helped to develop players, as part of
their move for the winger in 2014.
Álvarez made only 17 appearances
for Sunderland. PA Media
Steven Gerrard has said that Celtic’s
Champions League exit should be a
warning to his Rangers squad.
Celtic crashed out after a shock 4-3
defeat against the Romanian cham-
pions Cluj at Parkhead.
Rangers, meanwhile, have their
own Europa League ambitions to focus
on and will now look complete the job
against FC Midtjylland and move a step
closer to the group stages after the 4-2
win in Denmark last week. Gerrard
wants his team to take note of Celtic’s
fate and take appropriate action.
“What it shows last night is that
European ties are never over, even
when you get a positive result in the
fi rst leg,” Gerrard said. Celtic’s defeat
against Dan Petrescu’s side has dented
hopes of Scotland’s European repre-
sentatives being able to enter at a later
stage. With Scotland 20th in Uefa’s
ranking system, Rangers and fellow
Europa League competitors Aberdeen
and Kilmarnock were all forced to kick
off at the fi rst qualifying round this
season, as were Celtic in the conti-
nent’s premier competition.
A rise to 17th could yet see the top
two in this season’s Premiership start
at the second qualifying round next
term and Gerrard admits it is crucial
the country’s top clubs do their bit
in Europe. Gerrard, whose side go
in buoyant after beating Hibs 6-1 on
Sunday, said: “We have to take a 0-0
mentality. Every thing is to play for and
I want to see a hungry performance.
This team has had so much criticism
over the past 14 months about not
being consistent and taking the foot off
the gas at important times. ” PA Media
Rangers must
heed warning
of Celtic exit,
says Gerrard
▲ Neil Lennon watched his Celtic side
crash out of the Champions League
Heading home Mario Balotelli is set to join Brescia on a three-year deal after
turning down an off er from Flamengo in Brazil. The 29-year-old left Marseille
in the summer and has been discussing a deal with Brescia for some time, and
Balotelli is now close to agreeing a deal that will take him back to Serie A for the
fi rst time since the 2015-16 season. Born in Palermo, he spent a large part of his
childhood in Brescia and has always said that he only feels at home in that city.
JEAN-PAUL PÉLISSIER/
REUTERS
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