Another incident of racism has struck at the heart of Chilean domestic football, this time prompting the referee to take the players off.
O’Higgins, who won Chile’s Apertura league championship last year, already face sanctions after fans made racist chants and gestures towards San Marcos de Arica’s Venezuelan striker Emilio Renteria during a first division match.
On Saturday, Renteria was targeted once again, this time being reduced to tears as he was repeatedly insulted after scoring against Deportes Iquique, leading to the game being suspended after 70 minutes.
Iquique, on its official Twitter account, seemed to justify its fans’ behaviour, saying “Renteria celebrated the goal in front of Iquique fans,” adding that it was after this that “he was insulted and the game was suspended.”
Renteria declined to comment after the match and was accompanied as he left the stadium by San Marcos players and fans, who shouted messages of support.