All Whites abandon match against Qatar at halftime after racial abuse towards Michael Boxall

In a highly unusual turn of events, the match between New Zealand and Qatar on Monday, June 19th, played in Austria, came to an abrupt end after only 45 minutes. The All Whites made a collective decision to abandon the game after one of their players, defender Michael Boxall, was subjected to a racial slur by an undisclosed member of the Qatari team.

The incident occurred in the 40th minute of the match when Boxall and a Qatari player engaged in a confrontation. During the heated exchange, a Qatari player directed a racial slur towards Boxall, which was heard by several New Zealand players, including the defender himself. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, the players reported the incident to the appropriate authorities.

However, to the dismay of the New Zealand team, no official action was taken in response to the racial slur. Frustrated by the lack of action and unwilling to continue playing under such circumstances, the All Whites made a collective decision at halftime. Despite leading 1-0 in the fixture, courtesy of a goal by Marko Stamenic at the 17th minute, they resolved that they would not proceed with the match.

The stance taken by the New Zealand team was supported by New Zealand Football CEO Andrew Pragnell, who emphasized that there is no place for racism in football or anywhere else. Standing by the side of the players, Pragnell echoed their sentiment, making it clear that racial abuse would not be tolerated in the sport.

The decision to abandon the match serves as a powerful statement against racism in football, highlighting the importance of taking a stand against discriminatory behavior. While the outcome may have been disappointing for both teams and the spectators, the New Zealand side’s refusal to accept racial abuse demonstrates their commitment to fostering an inclusive and respectful environment in the world of football.

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The incident serves as a reminder that combating racism is an ongoing battle that requires vigilance and decisive action. It is hoped that the incident will prompt further discussions and measures to address and eradicate racial discrimination in sports, emphasizing the need for accountability and education to ensure a more inclusive and diverse future for the beautiful game.

Still no disciplinary actions or investigations took place about this particular case; it can be expected more debate in the coming days and it seems New Zealand Football will not let it go as they will look to continue with their strong statement against racism hoping the proper legal actions might be taken against the responsibles for this unacceptable behaviour.