SC Bastia (Ligue 2) assured Tuesday that it condemned “all forms of racism” after the incidents reported by the Bordeaux club after the match between the two teams, but warned that it did not intend to ” let it get dirty”. “The club condemns in a clear and unambiguous manner any form of racism or discrimination as it has always done,” Sporting wrote in a statement.
“Nevertheless, Sporting cannot allow its image to be tarnished by ambiguous communication from Bordeaux which would suggest that players, staff members or supporters present at the stadium have uttered racist insults. Therefore, the club reserves the right to immediately take legal action against any person implicating “SC Bastia, he added.
On Saturday, the Girondins de Bordeaux denounced racist insults uttered against their Cameroonian defender Malcom Bokele, excluded against Bastia (2-0) during a stormy end to the match of the 30th day of Ligue 2. The Girondins, “firmly committed to this fight against racism and all forms of discrimination”, had indicated that they were considering “prosecutions (…) so that the events that occurred today do not go unpunished”.
The press release gave no other details but, questioned by AFP, the club had indicated that it was about insults uttered on social networks, after the end of the match marked by a scuffle following a clash between Bokele and Bastian winger Migouel Alfarela.
Shortly after the match, several tweets and messages with offensive and racist connotations targeted the Bordeaux defender, who for his part expressed himself on Instagram: “I am obviously very disappointed with this end to the match, especially in these conditions. But the support I’ve been receiving since the footage of the incident goes straight to my heart.”