Elche vs Espanyol match stopped after Omar El Hilali complained of racial discrimination
Racism accusations stop Elche’s match against Espanyol in final minutes
The La Liga match between Elche and Espanyol was briefly halted after Omar El Hilali reported racist behavior late in the game.
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Game halted after serious claims
Sunday’s La Liga match between Elche and Espanyol, which ended in a 2-2 draw, was interrupted after Moroccan defender Omar El Hilali complained of racial discrimination.
According to Spanish newspaper Marca, the atmosphere was tense in the final minutes of the game. In the 80th minute, the referee activated La Liga’s anti-racism protocol and temporarily stopped the game after El Hilali accused Elche forward Rafa Mir of making racist remarks.
what happened on the pitch
The incident started after clashes between El Hilali and Rafa Mir. The Espanyol defender immediately turned to the referee, showing visible anger and claiming the Elche striker had insulted him in a racist manner.
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Rafael Mir denied the accusation with gestures and seemed to downplay the matter. Despite this, the referee decided to stop play and notify stadium officials, thus officially initiating anti-racism procedures.
Play resumed a few minutes later but the atmosphere remained tense until the final whistle.
Referee Report and Possible Penalties
AFP reports that the referee’s official report states that Rafael Mir allegedly told El Hilali:
However, the referee also confirmed that none of the match officials directly heard the insult.
Even so, if the investigation confirms the allegation, Rafa Mir could face serious disciplinary action.
Mir is already under investigation
Rafamir is under investigation for another sexual assault case related to an incident with a woman he met in a nightclub.
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At that time, his club did not terminate his contract, only suspended him for two games and fined him.