Porto striker Moussa Marega walked off the pitch during a match against Vitoria de Guimaraes Sunday after he was subjected to racist abuse from opposition fans.
The 28-year-old pushed away teammates, who were trying to calm Marega down, as he tried to leave the game in Portugal's top-flight, just nine minutes after he scored what turned out to be the match-winning goal.
The forward, who played on loan for Vitoria for the 2016-2017 season, scored in the 60th minute and celebrated by pointing toward his skin in front of a section of the stadium as home supporters threw objects from the stands.
Sport TV reporter Ivo Costa, who was at the game, told CNN that monkey chants throughout the game were clearly audible.
In the 69th minute a visibly distressed Marega was substituted after play had been stopped as he tried to walk off the field.
As he left the pitch the striker put his middle fingers up at the crowd and gestured with his thumbs down amid a chorus of jeers in the Estadio D. Afonso Henriques.
Portuguese police said it was investigating the racist abuse and "is taking the necessary steps to identify the suspects who committed the criminal offenses and administrative offenses."
Kick It Out, a leading UK organization that works to tackle discrimination in professional and grassroots football, questioned why the game's match officials had not done more to support Marega.
"This is really tough to watch," said a Kick It Out tweet, responding to video footage of the incident.
"The blatant disregard for protocol is unacceptable, and players should be united and walk off together in their condemnation of racism, instead of this."
CNN has reached out to APAF, Portugal's association for soccer referees, but has yet to receive a response.
FC Porto's Moussa Marega reacts after hearing racists chants Sunday.
The forward was eventually substituted.
SOURCE: BBC
