The final group game between the two teams, which took place at the Princes Park stadium in Paris, was postponed until Wednesday after players walked off the field saying that fourth official Sebastian Coltescu of Romania used a racial term when identifying Basaksehir’s Cameroonian assistant coach, Pierre Webo.
The flashpoint came on the touchline 14 minutes into the game and an enraged Webo demanded an explanation from Coltescu, repeating at least six times: “Why you say negro?” before he was sent off for his conduct on the sidelines.
“You are racist,” Basaksehir coach Okan Buruk said to Coltescu.
The exchanges were broadcast live around the world from football’s biggest club competition.
Both teams turned to Twitter to express their disapproval of the events.
Basaksehir’s official Twitter page published a statement saying “our footballers decided not to go on the field due to the racism that the 4th referee Sebastian Coltescu expressed against our assistant coach Pierre Webo”.