Major League Soccer has announced that no further action will be taken after finding unequivocal results in the accusation that a Minnesota United player racially abused Portland Timbers Diego Chara during a match on June 26.
The union announced its inability to confirm the incident and will not impose direct sanctions on anyone involved in the situation. Instead, MLS reminded all clubs and players to continue conducting annual non-discrimination and harassment.
Chara, the subject of the alleged attack, took to Twitter to share his thoughts on the matter after the league revealed their results.
“I’m proud to have been a part of Major League Soccer for 11 seasons. “During my time in the league, I have received enormous support and kindness from teammates and the entire MLS community,” Chara wrote.
“During our last game against Minnesota United, however, I was the target of an insult where the color of my skin was used to insult me. I do not think anyone should experience this, there is no place in any culture where you use your ethnicity to insult that you’ll be ok.
2/3 During our last game against Minnesota United, however, I was the target of an insult where the color of my skin was used to insult me. I do not think anyone should experience this, there is no place in any culture where it should be ok to use your ethnicity to insult you.
– Diego Chara (@ DiegoChara21) July 7, 2021
Following the league’s announcement, Minnesota United shared their own independent findings and concluded that the player denies any wrongdoing. The club’s statement reiterated their commitment to disseminating principles of inclusion, equality and respect, but failed to mention any further action on the issue or ongoing racism issues that arose within the league.
In Portland, the situation was not taken as lightly. Head coach Gio Savarese has not been quiet and expresses his disappointment with the league, the referee and the situation as a whole.
“I am very, very disappointed that we still have to deal with situations that should not happen anymore or in any sport or anywhere,” he said.
Savarese has stood by Chara and expressed disappointment over MLS lack of results / Abbie Parr / Getty Images
“There are things that are not acceptable and in this game there was a situation that had to do with a racist situation. A discriminatory word that has been said to one of our players who can not have a place anywhere or in any situation or any “Sports, nowhere. So I’m extremely disappointed that we still have to deal with such situations in a game at this time. The referee should have handled this situation in a much better way.”
Timber’s efforts did not go unnoticed when Chara expressed her gratitude on Twitter, adding: “I am grateful for the support I received from my teammates, players around the league, Timber’s front office and our supporters.”
