Patrick Vieira Hauls Manchester City Youth Team Off After Player 'Racially Abused'

Manchester City youth team coach Patrick Vieira unilaterally abandoned his side's friendly match against Croatian team HNK Rijeka after one of City's starlets was allegedly racially abused.

Vieira walked onto the pitch to talk to the referee and then abandoned the game after 19-year-old French midfielder Seko Fofana reportedly suffered a racial slur.

The alleged racist abuse came minutes before half time after Fofana was sent off for lashing out at one of his opponents in an off-the-ball incident.

A Manchester City satement read: "Manchester City's EDS U21 game with HNK Rijeka has today been cancelled due to an alleged incident of racial abuse toward the Club's young midfielder, Seko Fofana by a member of the opposing team.

Following an alleged incident in the latter stages of the first half of the game, being played in Novigrad, Croatia, a decision was taken by the management staff to withdraw the City team from the field of play and cancel the game.

Club representatives in Croatia and in Manchester are liaising with officials, the match organisers and the Croatian Football Association to pursue this matter further."

Rijeka said they was unsure why Vieira decided to bring the game to an abrupt halt.

In a statement the club said: "Manchester City coach Patrick Vieira entered the field, something was discussed with the referee, and then to the amazement of a well-filled stadium he took his team off the pitch.

"What are the reasons? They are known only to him."

It is not the first time a City player has been at the centre of racism accusations. Last year City midfielder Yaya Toure suffered monkey chants in a Champions League game against CSKA Moscow.

The Russian club was told to close part of its stadium for a forthcoming European match against Bayern Munich as punishment by Uefa.