Rubén Baraja's message against racism and a call for respect to the fans and the Club

Rubén Baraja spoke to the media before Valencia CF’s Wednesday LaLiga game against RCD Mallorca, beginning his press conference with a statement.

I would like to say something that seems very important to me. Then I'm not going to talk about anything other than football.

I, Rubén Baraja, as Valencia CF coach and as a person, absolutely condemn what happened at Mestalla in the game against Real Madrid. I said so in the press conference after the game and I repeat it today, for if anybody didn't hear it.

I am absolutely against racism. We, as a club, have had and still have black players on our team and we have loved and respected them as people, above all else. I am not going to allow the Valencia CF fans and Mestalla to be smeared with labels that do not represent us. Just as a player rightly fights back against insults and I support that with all my might, we as a club and a fanbase rebel against those who, during the days since the game, have accused us of being what we are not. I say this in the first person and as the coach of Valencia CF.

When the events occurred, Valencia CF acted immediately to put the situation in the hands of the law and comply with what is written regarding the matter. The sanction that the club have received seems disproportionate and unfair to me.