FC Porto striker Moussa Marega terminated his involvement in Sunday's meeting with Vitoria Guimaraes after being subjected to racial abuse by fans. The 28-year-old Mali international substituted himself off as protest to the monkey chants aimed at after his side took the lead.
Marega, who scored 25 goals on loan at Vitoria in the 2016/2017 season, scored a 60th-minute goal which would prove the winner in Porto's 2-1 victory against his old club. However, the striker's goal appeared to have infuriated the home fans who then aimed more abuse towards him.
In the 69th minute, the attacker signaled to the bench that he was leaving the field in protest although his manager Sergio Conceicao, teammates and Vitoria players tried to convince his to do otherwise. While he walked off, he further expressed his displeasure by giving the fans the thumbs-down gesture.
Marega abandona o relvado no D. Afonso Henriques contra a vontade de colegas e equipa técnica#LigaNOS #VSCFCP
— VSPORTS (@vsports_pt) February 16, 2020
https://t.co/q8tCRvjMxS pic.twitter.com/vRd7LfTtme
In an Instagram post following the end of the encounter, Marega stated that the home fans "who come to the stadium to make racist screams" were "idiots". Porto manager Sergio Conceicao also condemned the event at his post-match news conference.
"We are a family regardless of nationality, skin color, hair color. We are human, we deserve respect. What happened here is unfortunate.
"We are completely indignant about what happened. I know the passion that exists for Vitoria and I think most of the fans do not see themselves in the same attitude of some people who have insulted Moussa since the warm-up."
A number of football clubs including Borussia Dortmund offered their solidarity to Marega with various social media posts.
We strongly support and stand with Porto’s Moussa Marega who was subjected to racial chants today.
— Borussia Dortmund (@BlackYellow) February 16, 2020
Again and again, enough is enough!#BorussiaVerbindet https://t.co/VC3d1NWeaZ