Jamaican striker calls for apology after abuse by El Salvador referee

Jamaican striker Garrick Gordon has demanded a public apology from El Salvador referee Vicente Ruiz, after he allegedly racially abused the player during an El Salvador Premier League game.

The incident is said to have taken place as Gordon was playing for Atletico Marte against Alianza on the 15 January.

Gordon seeks a public apology
According to the La Prensa Grafica newspaper, Gordon is demanding a public apology after the referee allegedly called him a "Black, mother f ..." on two occasions.

The article said the 29 year-old Gordon, who is a regular starter for Atletico Marte after transferring from Vista Hermosa last season, has reported the incident to his club and has sought "diplomatic support".

Gordon told the Jamaica Observer newspaper on Thursday that it was not the first time he was being targeted by the same referee, it had happened before while he was playing in a lower division.

'Fast Car' as he was nicknamed due to his speed, told the Jamaica Observer he was surprised when he heard what Ruiz said to him as he was standing close to him. When he asked him why in the 80th minute, Gordon said the official brandished the red card and sent him off.

A second Jamaican, Sean Frazer, was also on the pitch playing for Alianza and was also cautioned by the referee in the 89th.

Support from club
Meanwhile, Gordon's coach Omar Fausto Vasquez has reportedly supported Gordon's version of what took place, while team manager Romeo Blanco has requested a meeting between the referee group and the player to verify what happened.

Humberto Torres, a member of the referees association, is, quoted as saying he is not in agreement with the meeting between the referee and the player, but that there would be an investigation into the allegations.

The La Prensa Grafica article also quoted Rafael Salguero, a member of FIFA's executive committee, saying that "racism cannot be accommodated in the field of football".

Meanwhile Rafael Rodriguez, president of the referees association (FESFUT), confirmed that Ruiz was demoted to the second division in 2006 because he had not attained the standard to take charge of matches at the highest level in the Central American country.

Ruiz's return to the top division, the article said, coincided with the arrival of the new arbitration commission headed by Francisco Valenzuela, senior vice-president of the Football Federation of El Salvador (FESFUT).

Latest News