ex-Besiktas striker Demba Ba racially abused in China

The striker was on the receiving end of a racist insult from an opponent during a game in the Chinese Super League.

Senegalese striker Demba Ba found himself at the center of controversy in China over allegations that an opposing Chinese player hurled racist insults at him during a match Saturday night.

The former Chelsea forward, now with Shanghai Shenhua, became embroiled in a heated exchange with Changchun Yatai midfielder Zhang Li late in their 1-1 Chinese Super League draw after Ba collided with one of Zhang’s teammates.

Various Chinese media reports said a furious Ba later claimed that Zhang made racially insulting remarks.

In a post-match press conference, Shenhua coach Wu Jingui condemned the incident.

“Later, I learned that a Yatai player used insulting language toward him (Ba). Around the world, it has been stressed that there should be no insulting speech toward black athletes,” Wu said, in comments posted on the team’s social media account.

“The Chinese Super League has players of many different skin colors. We should respect our opponents and there should be no discrimination.”

Following the match, many postings on Chinese social media as well as news media reports called for an investigation.

Ba also retweeted on his Twitter account a posting calling for “serious disciplinary actions” over the incident.

In a sign of solidarity, Besiktas posted a message of support on their Twitter account.

The former Besiktas striker, a Senegalese international, had played for Shenhua in 2015-16 before being sidelined with a broken leg.

Brief spells with Turkish sides Besiktas and Goztepe followed before he returned to Shenhua in June during the summer transfer window.