UEFA probe Sparta Prague after racist chants complaints from Monaco

Paris, Aug 5, 2021 (AFP) - Alleged racist chanting from sections of the crowd at Czech football club Sparta Prague during their Champions League qualifier against Monaco are being investigated, organisers UEFA said Thursday.

French midfielder Aurelien Tchouameni complained to the referee of racist abuse from the terraces after opening the score in a 2-0 win on Tuesday.

UEFA said it was investigating "discriminatory behaviour, injurious chanting and the throwing of objects at the player".

Tchouameni and his teammates ran over to coach Nico Kovac and UEFA officials, including referee Michael Oliver, to complain about monkey chants from the crowd in the Czech capital after he scored in the 37th minute.

The game was held up for three minutes but Monaco decided to play on rather than walk off, with Tchouameni saying later he preferred to do his talking on the pitch, but also asked UEFA not to allow the incident to go unpunished.

A message played out on the public address system and posted on the Letna Stadium screen warning that any further racist abuse would lead to the game being halted.

"We are all very sad and disgusted that this continues in the 21st century," Monaco coach Kovac said.

"We won the game and we also won against racism," he added.