Valencia say they are "deeply saddened" by comments made by Juan Cala, after he was accused of making a racist comment towards Mouctar Diakhaby.
The Cadiz defender held a press conference on Tuesday where he denied making a racist comment to Diakhaby during Sunday's La Liga meeting of the sides.
Valencia players followed Diakhaby off the Estadio Ramon de Carranza pitch after the French defender claimed he'd been racially abused by Cala.
After an hiatus, the game resumed - minus Diakhaby.
The referee's report read, "Player number 12 of Valencia C.F., Mouctar Diakhaby, earlier booked for arguing with an opponent, tells me word for word: "He called me a s***** black man" in reference to player number 16 of Cadiz C.F. Juan Torres Ruiz (Juan Cala
LIVE | Juan CALA press conference https://t.co/GPpR1lCSkc
— Cádiz CF 🇬🇧🇺🇸 (@Cadiz_CFEN) April 6, 2021
During a press conference on Tuesday, Cala said, "I don't know what has happened to the presumption of innocence. Nobody deserves this public lynching.
"Here's my phone number to at least apologise."
He added, "I don't know if Diakhaby made it up, if he misinterpreted it? I don't know.
"I've lived with Chinese, South Africans. I've been in Guinea with [Frederic] Kanouté and Benjamin [Zarandona].
"It's incredible what is happening. I am in a state of shock.
"We are [playing] football without a crowd. There are 20-25 cameras, microphones, players, referees... and nobody hears anything."
Cala said he would be willing to speak with Diakhaby, before adding, "There is no racism in Spanish football.
"I have no problem sitting down with him. What has developed is a circus."
Valencia maintain their belief in their player, saying together they "remain firm in the conviction to fight to the end, wherever necessary, on the matter for the good of football and society".
Valencia statement:
Valencia CF are deeply saddened by statements made by Cádiz CF player Juan Cala this Tuesday, in which 48 hours later, he denied racially insulting Mouctar Diakhaby during the LaLiga match played last Sunday at the Ramón de Carranza.
Cala has missed a great opportunity to accept his mistake and apologise to the player affected. Instead of doing this, he attacked both Diakhaby and other members of Valencia CF.
Valencia CF wish to reiterate that we believe our player and back him completely. After the threats made by Cala in his press conference this Tuesday, April 6th, the Club, president Anil Murthy and Mouctar Diakhaby himself remain firm in the conviction to fight to the end, wherever necessary, on the matter for the good of football and society. Valencia CF will not stop fighting for an improvement in protocol and in the battle against racism in football.
