The La Liga match between Elche and Espanyol was briefly halted on Sunday after Moroccan defender Omar El Helali complained of racist abuse from opposing striker Rafa Mir. Referee Ayuso Galic Apicita was forced to activate the anti-racism protocol in the 80th minute, crossing his arms to signal a stoppage of play after speaking with the Espanyol defender.
The referee's report stated that the Elche striker directed insulting remarks at the Moroccan defender regarding his origins, reportedly saying, "You came here on a small boat." The referee indicated in his report that he initiated disciplinary action despite confirming that none of the other officials heard the insults directly, but he treated the player's complaint seriously and applied the regulations.
Play resumed after a three-minute stoppage, during which Al-Hilali, 22, born in L'Hospitalet de Llobregat near Barcelona, appeared visibly moved and on the verge of tears. The match ended in a 2-2 draw, with Rafa Mir scoring a dramatic equalizer for his team from the penalty spot in the 90th minute.
The other goals in the match were scored by Marc Aguado for Elche in the 42nd minute, while Kike García scored for the visiting team in the 7th minute and Carlos Romero in the 57th minute. Following the match, La Liga issued a statement via its “X” platform condemning any racist act inside or outside stadiums, without directly mentioning the events of this particular match.
Rafa Mir, currently on loan at Elche from Sevilla, faces the prospect of severe sanctions. The former Valencia striker is under investigation for allegedly sexually assaulting a young woman at a nightclub on two occasions, an incident that led his club at the time to suspend him for two matches and fine him instead of dismissing him.
This incident comes at a time when Spanish football continues to face challenges in eradicating racism in the stands and on the pitch, despite efforts and legal condemnations. Real Madrid forward Vinicius Junior has been the most frequent target of such incidents since 2018, with sanctions imposed in only a limited number of cases.
In other matches of the round, Valencia returned to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over Osasuna, courtesy of a penalty converted by Belgian Largie Ramazani in the 67th minute. This win lifts Valencia to 29 points, placing them 14th and further away from the relegation zone, while Osasuna suffered their first defeat in their last seven league matches.
