According to reigning I-League champion Chennai City FC, its player was allegedly racially abused by the match referee in its defeat to Bashundhara Kings in the Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup in Chittagong on Thursday.
"Targetted derogatory and racist remarks are extremely impudent and harmful for the person at the receiving end. Chennai City FC can confirm one of our players was racially abused by the referee in today's Sheikh Kamal International Club Cup game against Bashundhara Kings," Chennai City posted on its social media account on Twitter.
It added, "[The] Club has raised the same with the AFC Match Commissioner and Bangladesh Football Federation officials."
Japan's Katsumi Yusa, Chennai City's summer signing, was shown a red card after a dispute with the referee which saw play being stopped for a considerable amount of time in the first half. Twelve minutes were added on to the opening period when coach Akbar Nawas was also sent off.
Centre-back Roberto Eslava was also given the marching orders as nine-man Chennai City went down 3-2 in the Group B fixture.
Chennai City came back from a goal down twice to equalise through Pedro Manzi and Mashoor Sheriff before it conceded a late winner in the 88th minute. Nawas' men are last on the points table with two defeats in as many matches.
However, Bashundhara Kings officials suggested that it may be a case of misunderstanding and there was no case of racial abuse.
Gokulam holds Terengganu
Gokulam Kerala continued its impressive run in the tournament by holding Malaysia's Terengganu FC to a 0-0 draw in a Group B fixture. Fernando Valera's side has four points from two matches and is placed second in the group behind Terengganu.
In Group A on Wednesday, Mohun Bagan registered its first points of the competition against Maldives' TC Sports Club. Defender Daneil Cyrus and forward Salva Chamorro scored in the 2-0 win. The Kolkata-based club is placed second on the table ahead of Young Elephant FC on goal difference.
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