Priso subjected to racial abuse after seeing red

Njongo Priso’s experience in Bulgarian football turned sour last Sunday as the Cameroonian winger was reportedly targeted for racial abuse by opposing players and fans after earning a red card in the second half of CSKA Sofia’s 3-0 win at Lokomotiv Plovdiv.

Priso was sent off following an altercation with Lokomotiv’s Brazilian midfielder Dakson after the latter had fouled the former Valletta player.

Video highlights showed the two players confronting each other before falling to the ground clutching their faces. The referee brandished the red card to dismiss both players but as they turned away, Dakson appeared to say something to Priso and slapped him in the face while the latter reacted by hitting out at the Plovdiv player.

Sources in Bulgaria told The Times that some fans shouted racial abuse and hurled objects at Priso as he left the pitch and he responded by making an obscene gesture.

Priso was escorted to the tunnel by police officers who reportedly interrogated the player after the match.

Before his sending-off, Priso was having a great match. He set up Anton Karachanakov for the opener after just three minutes and scored his side’s second with a clinical finish on 57 minutes.

Priso has proved an instant hit since joining CSKA Sofia from AEK Larnaca in January. The 23-year-old has been a first-choice player for the league leaders, scoring three goals in their last three outings.

CSKA Sofia are leading the standings with 48 points from 20 games, three more than Ludogorets Razgrad and Levski Sofia.

Attempts to contact Priso yesterday were unsuccessful.