LaLiga president condemns ´step back´ after Williams makes racism complaint

LaLiga president Javier Tebas condemned an awful day for Spanish football after Inaki Williams reported racist abuse while Barcelona and Valencia fans clashed at Mestalla.

Athletic Bilbao striker Williams said he was racially abused by Espanyol supporters during their top-flight match on Saturday.

The forward passed on a complaint to Athletic captain Iker Muniain, who in turn spoke with referee Jose Maria Sanchez Martinez, while Williams appeared to clash with fans as he was substituted.

Elsewhere, supporters of Barca and Valencia were involved in violent confrontations ahead of a match the home side won 2-0, handing Blaugrana head coach Quique Setien his first defeat.

Tebas vowed LaLiga would investigate both incidents, posting on Twitter: “Today we have taken a step back in the work started years ago.

Hoy hemos dado un paso atrás en el trabajo comenzado hace años, los incidentes violentos de Barcelona y Valencia, los insultos racistas a @Williaaams45 hacen muchísimo daño a todo el fútbol español, @laliga asume su responsabilidad, buscaremos con los clubes donde esta el error.

— Javier Tebas Medrano (@Tebasjavier) January 25, 2020

“The violent incidents of Barcelona and Valencia, the racist insults to Inaki Williams, they do a lot of damage to all of Spanish football.

“LaLiga takes responsibility. We will look with the clubs where the error is.”

Williams posted a message on his official Twitter account, writing: “It is very sad that today we continue to see racism in football. We have to end it among EVERYONE. Thanks for your support.”