The incident occurred during the match between Real Sociedad B and Castellón. In the closing stages of the game, 20-year-old Kazunari Kita approached the officials to complain about a comment made by Castellón player Alberto Jiménez Benítez.
The referee followed the current anti-racism protocol by crossing his arms and pausing play. This signal notifies the stadium and both teams that an investigation into discriminatory language is taking place on the pitch.
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According to the official match report, Kita told the referee that Jiménez Benítez had used a racist slur combined with an expletive. The report states the insult referred to the player’s ethnicity, specifically calling him “F**king Chinese.”
However, the officiating team noted that they did not personally hear the exchange. “Kita told the referee that opponent Alberto Jiménez Benítez had used a racist slur, with an expletive, referring to him as Chinese,” the report clarified. Because the officials did not hear the words themselves, the league will likely have to rely on television footage or witness statements for further disciplinary action.
A pattern of incidents in Spanish football
This event follows a series of similar disruptions in Spanish football. Only last week, a La Liga match between Elche and Espanyol was interrupted for similar reasons. In that instance, Morocco international Omar El Hilali complained of insults from Rafa Mir.
Spanish football authorities have faced increasing pressure to toughen their stance on discrimination. While the protocol to halt matches is now a standard response, players and advocacy groups continue to call for more severe sanctions against individuals found guilty of such abuse.
