Romanian fourth official at the centre of the Champions League walk-off ‘has called Ba to apologise’

The Romanian fourth official at the centre of the Champions League racism storm last week has apologised to Demba Ba, the Istanbul Basaksehir forward has said.

The Turkish club’s Champions League tie against PSG last week had to be suspended after Sebastian Coltescu allegedly used a racist remark to identify Cameroonian assistant coach Pierre Webo.

Both sets of players walked off the pitch as a result and the match had to be completed 24 hours later with a different set of officials in charge of proceedings.

Demba Ba (right) has revealed Sebastian Coltescu (left) has apologised to him for last week

Istanbul Basaksehir’s match against PSG was suspended after Coltescu allegedly used a racist remark to identify assistant coach Pierre Webo (above)

It is believed Coltescu said ‘negru’, the Romanian word for black, leading Ba, a substitute for the Turkish champions, charging in the direction of the official to question why he had used the word to identify Webo.

He said: ‘You never say ‘this white guy’, you say ‘this guy’, so why when you’re mentioning him… listen to me… why when you mention a black guy, why do you say ‘this black guy’.’

Now, in quotes carried by Turkish newspaper Hurriyet, the former Newcastle and Chelsea striker said that Coltescu has now apologised for his remarks. 

‘The referee, Sebastian Coltescu, called and said that he is not a racist man,’ Ba is quoted as saying. ‘He apologised for what happened.

Ba confronted Coltescu why he had used such remarks to talk about the Cameroonian

Now Ba has revealed that Coltescu apologised to him in a conversation held over the phone

‘Someone I could not say no to called me and told me that the referee wanted to talk to me. I said ok, then Coltescu called me.

‘He said he was sorry for what has happened and stressed that he is not a racist man,’ Ba added, noting that ‘the case is closed for him.’

The conversation between Ba and Coltescu was reportedly mediated – as the former hinted at in his comments –  by the Senegalese’s former international team-mate Ousmane N’Doye. 

In quotes attributed to the Romanian press, the retired ex-defensive midfielder said: ‘Demba Ba is from Senegal like me. I made them talk. 

The conversation was reportedly mediated by Ba’s former team-mate Ousmane N’Doye (right)

‘They both said, ‘He is a good man’ about each other. Ba did not accuse the referee of racism.’ 

The comments come following Sportsmail‘s exclusive interview with Webo, who revealed his shock at being caught up in the incident and insists it would have been easy to identify him among Istanbul’s staff at the Parc de Princes without using such a remark.

However, Webo also claimed that the walk-off was a watershed moment for football, believing that it shows that players are finally united.

‘This thing happened at a high level. This means that everything [level] down, if they hear something, it can make players stop because on December 8 in the Champions League, some guys did that.

Webo believes the walk-off at the Parc des Princes was a watershed moment for football

‘That moment give a very big importance to players because football without players is not football.

‘I feel like ‘yes, finally players are united.’ They are serious. They are going altogether.

‘I was proud of that thing. Not only because of me, but generally.’

Sportsmail also revealed last week that UEFA are considering making changes to referee education, with further cultural and diversity training potentially on offer for their officials.