Who is Cheikh Sarr, and why was he suspended?

Sportsdunia Desk April 4, 2024April 4, 2024

In a clash between Rayo Majadahonda and Sestao River, things took a turn for the worse with Majadahonda walking off the field after racial abuses flew across towards their players. The game was, at the time, in favor of Sestao as they were leading 2-1 with 84 minutes played. However, fans racially abusing Rayo Majadahonda’s goalkeeper Cheikh Sarr, saw the club take action.

They confirmed, via a statement released on Twitter (now called X) that they wouldn’t finish the match after the team walked off the field. This, however, came after Sarr was sent off in the 84th minute for confronting fans who were racially abusing him from behind his goal. To make matters worse, Sestao were handed a 3-0 win because the game was abandoned and fans are furious.

RFEF hands Cheikh Sarr a two-match ban

But while Sestao were handed the win, the club were also given a two-match stadium closure and a fine after a disciplinary committee confirmed that there was racial abuse directed at Sarr. However, ESPN has now reported that the Spanish Football Federation’s (RFEF) disciplinary committee have now punished Sarr.

🚨🚨| Cheikh Sarr, who confronted supporter after racial abuse, receives 2 matches of suspension. His team Rayo Majadahonda, an automatic loss of 3-0 after walking off.

Sestao River will have to play their next two matches behind closed doors, despite denying any racist insults… pic.twitter.com/CThlQxlNx2
— CentreGoals. (@centregoals) April 3, 2024

The statement, released by the RFEF, confirmed the punishment and revealed that it was for a “minor infraction of conduct contrary to good sporting order.” The statement further revealed that the RFEF handed Sarr a punishment because the disciplinary committee believed that the 23-year-old shouldn’t have confronted the fans.

Furthermore, ESPN added that Sarr’s club, Majadahonda, has also been punished. They’ve been deducted three points for walking off and abandoning the game, and have been fined €3,006.

The duel punishments, for both club and player, have only fuelled racial issues around Spain as it comes mere weeks after Vinicius Junior was racially abused. The Real Madrid star has faced a lot of abuse over the course of his career and has spoken a lot about it recently. Furthermore, both Sevilla boss Quique Sanchez Flores and Marcos Acuna suffered racist and xenophobic abuse on Saturday as well.