New York Red Bulls withdraw from youth tourney over two alleged on-field racist incidents, hitting out at MLS for an ‘extreme lack of action’

The New York Red Bulls’ U-15 and U-17 academy teams are pulling out of Adidas’ Generation Cup over players’ claim that MLS organizers displayed an ‘extreme lack of action’ in response to two separate racist incidents that occurred on the field of play.

The latest alleged incident reportedly occurred on Thursday, when U-1 Red Bulls defender Eric Tai was allegedly subjected to racist abuse by a member of Crotia’s Hajduk Split.

The Athletic is reporting that the referee did send off the player accused of racism. Days earlier, goalkeeper Joshua Grant claimed he received racist abuse from a CF Monterrey player.

‘What has happened these past two games is completely inappropriate and has changed our team forever,’ the Red Bulls U-17 players said in Thursday’s statement.

‘The extreme lack of action taken by the league is unacceptable and has left a feeling of untrust and uncertainty in our safety and well-being while playing in this event and our games back home. We hope this situation will bring light to an ongoing problem in the game of football and in our world.’

MLS spokespeople did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com’s request for comment. 

The Red Bulls’ U-17 team had already been eliminated from the tournament by Hajduk Split, although U-15 remained in the competition until bowing out ahead of Thursday’s game against France’s Toulouse.