Uefa introduced its three-step racism procedure in 2009 and gave referees the power to halt games.<\/p>\n
This is how the protocol works; If a player reports alleged racism, a referee has no further powers if they have not heard what was said. The game is stopped and details given to the fourth official.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, Vinicius took himself off the pitch. It was then a case of diplomacy between the teams to get the game back on.<\/p>\n
Had there been racist abuse from supporters, as is more usually the case, an announcement would be made.<\/p>\n
If the racism continues, by players or fans, the game could be suspended for a longer period and another warning issued over the public address system. <\/p>\n
If it still goes on, the game could then be abandoned. <\/p>\n
Bhandari said the three-step protocol has “not been invoked a huge number of times” but when it has, it has provided a “quite healthy debate”.<\/p>\n
It was used in the Premier League in the first match of this season at Liverpool by referee Anthony Taylor when Antoine Semenyo said he had been racially abused<\/a> by a fan in the crowd during Bournemouth’s game at Anfield.<\/p>\n