‘Racist remark’ heard by San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ibobisi from New York Red Bulls player.

San Jose Earthquakes forward Jeremy Ibobis says he heard a racist remark from New York Red Bulls player Dante Fanzer at their MLS game, and his team nearly walked off the field.

Speaking at a post-match news conference with remarkable equanimity, Iwobisi said he and his team elected to continue the game because Vanzier, who was not named but coach Luchi Gonzalez said, said the suspension was not directed at him directly or at anyone. last.

The incident led to 21 minutes of injury time in a match that ended 1-1 – the Red Bulls equalized in the 107th minute.

Ibobisi said after the match: “The racist remark was said – I don’t think it was for me, I can feel quite comfortable when I said it but the word was used”. From there, a person could draw any kind of inference as to what they were aiming for, and that’s what the investigation could come up with.

It is important that we extract all the facts. I want to be as open as possible here. There is a lot of uncertainty here, I want to honor what I hope will be a solid investigation. A difficult situation. I’m grateful to be with my teammates.

“What’s important for me to share is that I know what I heard and the reason I felt, after a lengthy conversation we should continue the game is that the player who said the word claimed it was not meant for either of us.

Whether or not this was a bona fide comment, we will see as the investigation continues. But in the difficult moment where players are put in charge, they have to manage all kinds of emotions because the system isn’t strong enough.

“I think what was important was that the team was united. And that goes from top to bottom, from the coaches to the players.

Asked if the players were ready to walk off the field, he added: “Everything was on the table, it was a particularly emotional moment.

When you’re in the field you don’t have the same mechanisms to deal with this kind of behaviour. I think the referees have gone through the process of talking to the captains and the coaches. I must take what I am told at face value and proceed with this knowledge, unless I am absolutely sure that I can determine the direction in which the word is aimed.

“You have to proceed with absolute caution even in moments of pain, when you feel somewhat incapable of dealing with the emotions to the degree you would like to.”

Coach Gonzalez said afterwards that he had asked Red Bulls coach Gerhard Struber to replace Vanzer.

He added, “When I listen to my players regarding what has been said or not said, there are things that are not acceptable. It precedes the game we are playing.