Eto'o tries to leave pitch after racist abuse

Barcelona's Cameroon striker Samuel Eto'o threatened to leave the pitch during their 2-0 Primera Liga win at Real Zaragoza on Saturday after being racially abused by the home fans.

Referee Victor Esquinas Torres stopped the game in the second half to ask for an announcement over the public address system to call a halt to the abuse and Eto'o tried to leave the pitch, appearing to say he had had enough of the insults.

The three times African Player of the Year was persuaded to continue by his team mates and Barca coach Frank Rijkaard and the match resumed soon after.

"It was a shame," Rijkaard told a news conference after the match. "Samuel is a human being and he felt bad on the pitch, but I was pleased with the attitude of his team mates who told him to continue.

"He proved he was able to overcome the circumstances and he made a valuable contribution to our victory. It's a real shame that things like this happen as it is thanks to players like Samuel that the fans come to the stadium to be entertained.

"I would also like to say that the referee acted very well."

EWERTHON ASHAMED

Zaragoza's Brazilian striker Ewerthon said he was ashamed of the action of the home fans

"I'm black too," the former Borussia Dortmund player told the Onda Cero radio station. "I'm a Zaragoza player and totally opposed to the fans who did this. I've been abused too at other grounds in Spain but we need to rise above this.

"The Spanish Federation have to start taking proper measures and we as black players also have to act. We are here to work and if things carry on like this it will be impossible."

Zaragoza were fined 600 euros ($713.6) by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) last season after a section of their fans directed similar abuse against Eto'o.

Earlier this month the club was fined a similar amount after some of their fans directed racist insults at Real Betis's Brazilian forward Robert.

In November Messina's Ivory Coast defender Zoro threatened to halt a Serie A game in Italy after suffering racial abuse from travelling Inter Milan supporters.