QPR says youth team abandoned friendly in Spain over racism

MADRID (AP) — English club Queen Park Rangers says one of its youth teams abandoned a friendly in Spain because players were subjected to racist abuse by their opponents.

QPR CEO Lee Hoos says in a statement on Wednesday that the club's under-18 squad was "forced to abandon" last week's match against Spanish club Nervion because of "abuse from opposition players."

The English club says "a number of the QPR players were subjected to racist abuse" in the second half of the game in Seville.

Hoos has praised coach Paul Furlong and his staff "for reacting in such a manner and doing everything within their powers to protect the players." Furlong told his players to leave the field.

The Spanish soccer federation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.