In the latest chapter of the Spanish league's battle with racist behavior by fans, Alfonso Perez Burrull became the first La Liga referee to stop a game because of racist chants.
When Malaga fans made monkey noises as Espanyol goalkeeper, Carlos Kameni of Cameroon, got the ball, Perez Burrull halted the game and asked club officials to make a public address announcement before restarting play.
The Spanish soccer federation (RFEF) does not take action against clubs for its fans' racist behavior unless it is noted in the referee's report. Perez Burrull is one of the few La Liga refs who makes notes of racist fan behavior in his game reports.
In December, FIFA President Sepp Blatter recommended that fans spotted making racist chants be escorted to center field to be booed by the rest of the spectators.