All Whites game abandoned after alleged racial abuse

Michael Boxall and Bill Tuiloma
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The All Whites game against Qatar in Austria has been abandoned at half time when the New Zealanders refused to return to the field saying a player was racially abused.

New Zealand Football said on social media that Michael Boxall was racially abused during the first half by a Qatari player.

New Zealand Football then added that because no action was taken the team decided not to come out for the second half.

The incident happened shortly before half time and New Zealand captain Joe Bell spent several minutes remonstrating with the referee over the matter but no action was seemingly taken.

The All Whites were leading 1-0 after Marko Stamenic scored early in the game.

Michael Boxall was racially abused during the first half of the game by a Qatari player.

No official action was taken so the team have agreed not to come out for the second half of the match.

— New Zealand Football (@NZ_Football) June 19, 2023

“Apparently two players on the pitch they exchanged words… the New Zealand players decided to support their teammate just as our team decided to support our player,” Qatar coach Carlos Queiroz told the Sky TV broadcast.

“The staff of New Zealand also support the statement of the New Zealand player and we support our player and they decided to abandon the game… it’s just an argument between two players and this is a new chapter in football which nobody can understand.”

Just a few days ago in Barcelona FIFA president Gianni Infantino said matches must be stopped if there is racial abuse.

“It’s very important not just to talk about racism and discrimination, but to take action in a decisive and convincing manner – zero tolerance,”

He said it was imperative that match officials stop a match when players were subject to abuse.

“There is no football if there is racism! So let’s stop the games,” he said.

“The referees have this opportunity in FIFA competitions as we have this process for stopping the game, and actions have to be taken at every level, at national level as well. Everyone has to understand this and we will go, together, until the end.”

-RNZ