THE fourth official at the centre of the racism controversy in Tuesday’s aborted Champions League clash between Paris Saint-Germain and Istanbul Basaksehir will struggle to work again if allegations against him are upheld, according to Kick It Out chair Sanjay Bhandari.

Uefa has launched an investigation into the Group H encounter which was abandoned after 13 minutes when both sets of players walked off in the wake of a red card being shown to Basaksehir’s assistant manager Pierre Webo.

Subsequent video footage showed the Cameroonian accusing fourth official Romanian Sebastian Coltescu of using racist language, with Basaksehir striker Demba Ba also remonstrating with the official.

Bhandari said he hopes Uefa will impose “appropriate sanctions” if the official is found guilty and that any proof of guilt could effectively constitute a life ban.

He told Sky Sports News: “I’m not sure whether it would be possible, even if they didn’t get a life ban … for that person to officiate again, and whether the players would accept that.

“We have to let process take its course and hopefully [Uefa] will do a thorough investigation and there will be appropriate sanctions.”

Basaksehir, which had earlier posted a message on its Twitter saying “NO TO RACISM #Respect,” announced that its players would not be reappearing to complete the match.

“Our players have taken a decision not to go back on the pitch after our assistant coach, Pierre Webo, was exposed to racist behaviour by the fourth official,” the Twitter post said.

PSG said in a statement that “all forms of racism go against the values held by Paris Saint-Germain and the club’s chairman, staff and players.”

The club added: “For more than 15 years Paris Saint-Germain has led the fight against discrimination and continues to work to eradicate it in all forms.

“The capital club is today one of the most committed sports clubs striving to end all forms of violence and discrimination.”