Referee halts La Liga game under racism protocol

Sunday's La Liga match between Elche and Espanyol was paused for three minutes under Uefa's racism protocol, the match referee has indicated in his report.

Referee Iosu Galech Apezteguia wrote that he halted the game after Espanyol's Omar El Hilali said Elche's Rafa Mir had made a racist comment to him, according to Spanish football expert Guillem Balague., external

The incident occurred in the 78th minute.

Under Uefa's protocol, the referee will stop a game if a player reports alleged racism, and give details to the fourth official.

Espanyol later posted a picture of 22-year-old Spain-born Morocco international El Hilali on social media with the message "with you".

La Liga said: "We condemn any racist act. On the field and off it, there is no place for those who hate."

Elche said, external that they condemn any discriminatory act but asked for caution in the "absence of evidence".

Mir scored a 90th-minute penalty as the match was drawn 2-2.

The racism protocol was recently used in a Champions League game when Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr told the match referee he had been racially abused by Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni during the first leg of the play-off tie between the clubs.

The Argentina international has denied the allegation but missed the second leg after being given a one-match ban by Uefa pending the result of a full investigation by an ethics and disciplinary inspector.

He could be punished further once that is complete.

Vinicius has also suffered a number of incidents of racist abuse during games in Spain.

He was targeted Real Madrid's match against Real Valladolid in September 2022. As a result, five people were handed suspended prison sentences in May 2025 for racially abusing the Brazil international in an "unprecedented" ruling in Spain.