PSG and Istanbul Basaksehir in powerful show of solidarity as Champions League game concludes

The suspended Champions League match between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir began with a powerful show of solidarity, less than 24 hours after it was marred by an alleged racist incident involving a match official.

Before the game, both sets of players, as well as the new match officials, knelt together around the center circle as the Champions League anthem played, the vast majority of them also raising their fists.

Romanian referee Ovidiu Hategan (in yellow) talks to Istanbul Basaksehir's staff members during the UEFA Champions League group H football match between Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Istanbul Basaksehir FK at the Parc des Princes stadium in Paris, on December 8, 2020. - Paris Saint-Germain's decisive Champions League game with Istanbul Basaksehir was suspended today in the first half as the players walked off amid allegations of racism by one of the match officials. The row erupted after Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo, the former Cameroon international, was shown a red card during a fierce row on the touchline with staff from the Turkish club appearing to accuse the Romanian fourth official of using a racist term. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) (Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)

Related article New officials appointed for Champions League match suspended after alleged racist incident

Players and the coaching staff from both sides wore special t-shirts with the words “NO TO RACISM” emblazoned on the front, along with the badges of both clubs. UEFA, European football’s governing body, also ordered for there to be banners placed in the stands of the empty Parc des Princes bearing the same message.

PSG striker Kylian Mbappe – whose two goals in the 5-1 win meant he became the youngest player to score 20 goals in the Champions League – says now is the time for action.

“Of course, I am proud of what was done. A lot of things were said but, in fact, there’s nothing better than actions,” he told reporters afterwards.

“We are tired, we don’t want to go through this (racism incidents) again. We’re all human beings and this was intolerable. People are fed up and we had to do something.

“We were not disappointed not to play. We made that decision. We were proud. The more you let these things slide, the more you’re led to believe that it’s normal. But no, it’s not normal.”

On Tuesday, the match was halted when both teams walked off the pitch in protest after Romanian fourth official Sebastian Col?escu was accused of making an alleged racist comment towards Basaksehir assistant coach Pierre Webo, who is Cameroonian.

Players and officials kneel before the resumption of the match.

After being shown a red card by the match referee, Webo could be heard over the broadcast of French channel RMC Sport repeatedly asking: “Why [did] you say negro?” and pointing at Col?escu.

UEFA told CNN that Webo’s red card has been put on hold as it investigates the incident.

During the incident, Basaksehir striker Demba Ba could be heard over the BT Sport broadcast saying: “You never say ‘this White guy,’ you say ‘this guy.’ So why when mention a Black guy, you have to say ‘this Black guy’?”

Both teams refused to resume Tuesday with Col?escu still involved so UEFA announced a new officiating team for Wednesday’s resumption. Dutch referee Danny Makkelie led the new team of officials and was supported by fellow countryman Mario Diks and Poland’s Marcin Boniek.

Poland’s Bartosch Frankowsky was the new fourth official, while Italy’s Marco Di Bello and Maurizio Mariani oversaw VAR.

The events of the past 24 hours could serve to draw a line in the sand in football’s fight against racism, marking the first time two teams have walked off the pitch and caused a match to be abandoned following an incident of alleged racism.

The fourth official was accused of making an alleged racist comment towards Pierre Webo.

Five-star PSG

When the match resumed with 14 minutes on the clock, Istanbul Basaksehir were by far the superior team. Fredrik Gulbrandsen had two great opportunities to give the visiting side the lead, his first effort was blocked by PSG goalkeeper Keylor Navas and the second he sent high over the bar.

However, it only took PSG five minutes to find its feet and Mbappe really should have given his side the lead, but failed to test Basaksehir goalkeeper Mert Gunok when through on goal.

It was a sign of things to come, though, and the French sided did find the breakthrough after 21 minutes thanks to a brilliant individual effort from Neymar. The Brazilian spun brilliantly after receiving the ball from Marco Veratti and produced a delightful nutmeg on Carlos Ponck, before curling the ball past Gunok into the top corner.

The match was resumed with a different set of officials.

PSG needed a victory to guarantee top spot in Group H ahead of RB Leipzig after the German club’s 3-2 victory over Manchester United on Tuesday and looked to have all but wrapped up the three points just minutes after scoring the first.

This time it was a blistering counter-attack that Neymar finished off, receiving a pass from Mbappe and squeezing the ball under the foot of Gunok.

Defender Mitchel Bakker thought he had added a third for PSG less than a minute later, finishing off the loose ball after Neymar had been challenged by Gunok. However, after two lengthy VAR consultations, Bakker was ruled offside and Gunok adjudged to have fouled Neymar, eventually resulting in a PSG penalty.

Players and coaching staff wore t-shirts with the message 'NO TO RACISM.'

Up stepped Mbappe to score his first Champions League goal of the season and cement PSG’s place at the top of Group H.

Early in the second half, Neymar completed his hat-trick with another stunning goal, playing a quick one-two with Angel Di Maria before curling the ball into the far corner.

Mehmet Topal scored a scrappy consolation goal for Basaksehir, but Mbappe scored his second goal just five minutes later to wrap up a convincing 5-1 win and top arguably the hardest group in this season’s competition.

Ben Church and Aleks Klosok contributed to reporting.