Aberdeen: Pape Habib Gueye racially abused by fans during PAOK Salonika draw

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Pape Habib GueyeImage source, SNS
Image caption,

Pape Habib Gueye, right, was an unused substitute in Aberdeen's draw

Aberdeen have complained to Uefa that striker Pape Habib Gueye was racially abused by supporters during his side's draw with PAOK Salonika.

The incident occurred during the second half of the 2-2 Europa Conference League draw in Greece, in which the Senegal forward Gueye was a substitute.

Aberdeen say they immediately told the Uefa venue director and met with the match delegate to officially report the incident at full time.

"Pape has the unwavering support of his teammates and all at Aberdeen will liaise fully with Uefa during their investigations into this very serious matter," read a club statement.

"As a club we have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or racist abuse. There is no place for such behaviour in football, or society as a whole."

In response, PAOK described the complaint as "clearly a product of imagination, as it did not come to the attention of any official".

They said there has "never been racist behaviour" in their stadium and it "would not be tolerated anyway".

They also criticised "the defiant behaviour of the Aberdeen substitutes in their equaliser" and praised the home fans for not reacting.

Speaking after the game, Aberdeen midfielder Jamie McGrath - who scored the goal that earned the Scottish Premiership side a point - said 24-year-old Gueye was "very upset".

"We're all with Pape," the Irishman said. "We have to gather round him.

"The boys stood up for him, I think Angus was one of them. And I think Rhys [Williams] as well. If we all knew, we might of walked off, I don't know.

"There was that much commotion going on. We didn't have a clue on the pitch we were just focused on the game. All we know is Pape did suffer some form of racist abuse."

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