Aberdeen: Pape Habib Gueye racism allegations to be investigated by Uefa

Uefa will investigate allegations of racial abuse towards Aberdeen striker Pape Habib Gueye by PAOK Salonika fans in their Europa Conference League game.

Aberdeen complained to European football's governing body last week after the incident in the second half.

The Senegal forward, 24, was an unused substitute in the 2-2 draw in Greece.

Aberdeen immediately told the Uefa venue director about the abuse and met with the match delegate to officially report the incident at full-time.

The Greek side responded to the claims by saying they were "clearly a product of imagination".

PAOK added that there has "never been racist behaviour" in their stadium and it "would not be tolerated".

Uefa says further information will be made available in due course.

"Pape has the unwavering support of his team-mates and all at Aberdeen will liaise fully with Uefa during their investigations into this very serious matter," Aberdeen said in a statement following the match.

"As a club we have zero tolerance for any form of discrimination or racist abuse. There is no place for such behaviour in football, or society as a whole."

Aberdeen were eliminated from the Europa Conference League despite Jamie McGrath's free-kick claiming a point against PAOK.

Taison and Mbwanna Samatta put the hosts in control but a fine Duk goal and the Irishman's set-piece strike from 25 yards earned the Scottish Premiership side a draw.

McGrath said after the game that Gueye, who joined Aberdeen on a three-year deal from KV Kortrijk for undisclosed fee in August, was "very upset" about the incident.

"We're all with Pape," McGrath added. "We have to gather round him.

"The boys stood up for him, I think Angus [MacDonald] was one of them. And I think Rhys [Williams] as well. If we all knew, we might have walked off, I don't know.

"There was that much commotion going on. We didn't have a clue on the pitch we were just focused on the game. All we know is Pape did suffer some form of racist abuse."

The Dons have yet to win after four games in Group G and their faint hopes of progressing to the knockout stage were extinguished by Eintracht Frankfurt's victory in Helsinki.

This article originally appeared on BBC News

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