Mouctar Diakhaby, a Valencia defender refused to take part in the anti-racist protests in Spanish La Liga before their match against Real Mallorca on Thursday, 25th of May.
The Guinean international was pictured walking at the back of other players who were standing behind the anti-racist banner.
The Guinean player distanced himself from his team and the Mallorcans as they posed for photos in front of a banner which read “Racists, out of football”.
According to reports, the racist, “Out of Football” campaign is carried out by the Higher Sports Council of Spain, in agreement with La Liga and the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF).
The banner was designed in response to the horrible abuse Vinicius Jr. suffered at Valencia’s home stadium.
The Real Madrid winger was booed and called a “monkey” by a sizeable portion of Valencia fans, and this has happened to him at other Spanish stadiums as well.
The response from La Liga authorities, most notably President Javier Tebas, who pretty much accused Vinicius, only to change his tune shortly after, hardly served to further enrage the controversy.
Why did Mouctar Diakhaby not stand behind La Liga’s new anti-racist banner?
Mouctar Diakhaby, the Valencia defender has already gone through a predicament related to that of Vinícius Jr. of Real Madrid in 2021 by fellow player (Juan Cala) during a game against Cádiz.
The outbreak had no penalties or outcomes due to a lack of proof.
After the incident with Vinícius Jr. last Sunday against Valencia, Diakhaby expressed solidarity with the Brazilian winger on his social media handle and requested discipline for the racists.
Mouctar Diakhaby said via his social media page; “I support Vinicius Junior against the racist abuse he received from some fans”.
He added, “And I hope that my club will do everything necessary to strongly punish those who committed this act, to say nothing is to be an accomplice”.
On the other hand, three fans were detained for their abusive behavior toward Vinicius, and Valencia has since announced a five-match ban for them from Mestalla Stadium.
Who’s Mouctar Diakhaby?
Mouctar Diakhaby is a professional football player who plays as a center-back for Guinea’s national team and La Liga club Valencia.
Mouctar Diakhaby’s age;
Diakhaby was born on the 19th of December 1996 in Vendome, France.
Mouctar Diakhaby’s career;
Diakhaby debuted for the first time with the Lyon first squad on September 10, 2016, against Bordeaux in a 3-1 home loss in Ligue 1.
His first goal for Lyon’s main squad came in a 6-0 thumping of Nantes on the road in Ligue 1 on November 30, 2016.
Diakhaby scored his first UEFA Europa League or UEFA Champions League goal on February 23, 2017 (in the 89th minute) in a 7-1 home triumph over AZ Alkmaar in the round of 32-second leg.
In the 2016–17 Europa League quarterfinals versus Roma, he scored in both legs.
Diakhaby committed to Valencia for the next five years on June 28th, 2018.
He used to play for France on the junior national team. However, in 2022 he made his debut for Guinea, the country of his parents, in a match against Egypt.
