PARIS – The football federations of Qatar and Kuwait on Tuesday denied allegations of racial abuse of rival players a day after their matches against New Zealand and Ireland were abandoned.

New Zealand did not return for the second half of Monday’s international friendly in Ritzing, Austria while leading 1-0, claiming Michael Boxall, who is of Samoan heritage, was racially abused by a Qatari opponent.

On Tuesday, both the Qatari federation and forward Yusuf Abdurisag denied he had made any racist comments, insisting he himself had been the victim of discriminatory remarks.

Abdurisag “confirmed an exchange of words with an opponent in the heat of the moment” but maintained he uttered “no insulting or discriminatory remarks”, the federation said.

“During last night’s game, I was the target of racist abuse from a member of the opposing team,” he said in a separate statement.

“To my complete shock, that same player accused me of using offensive language and the game was abandoned.

“During my travels around the world as a footballer I have experienced racist abuse, but never have I been both a victim and the accused in the same incident.

“It’s true that players often say things to each other in the heat of the moment, but there is a clear line that I have never crossed.”

Qatar’s Portuguese coach Carlos Queiroz was “surprised” by the New Zealanders’ decision, saying there were no witnesses and that it was “just an argument between two players”.

Kuwait also rejected claims the friendly match between their Olympic team and Ireland’s Under-21s had been stopped because of alleged racist abuse by one of their players.

The match, also in Austria, was abandoned in the second half with the Irish 3-0 up.

“The Kuwait Football Association condemns the announcement made by the Irish Football Association (FAI) through its official Twitter account, regarding the alleged racism directed towards one of their players,” said a statement.

“We confirm that the circulated news is false, and the association categorically rejects such accusations.”

On Monday, the FAI issued a statement on Twitter saying racism was the reason, adding that it will be reporting this “serious matter” to Fifa and Uefa. Irish media said the alleged victim was Queens Park Rangers forward Sinclair Armstrong, who is of Nigerian descent.

“Kuwait FA emphasises its full commitment to sportsmanship and encourages the promotion of complete respect. It rejects and confronts all forms of discrimination, inequality and racism,” added the Kuwaiti response. AFP