12 Things Newcastle Fans Need To Know About Patrick Vieira's Managerial Career

8. He Stands Up For What He Believes In... And Led His Players Off The Field Early Following Alleged Racist Abuse

In July 2014, Vieira showed that he is willing to stand up in the face of adversity and show his support for what he believes in. When his Manchester City Elite Development Under-21 were playing Croatian side HNK Rijeka in a friendly in Novigrad, their French midfielder Seko Fofana was allegedly racially abused a minute before half-time by an opponent. Man City were losing 1-0 and Vieira walked on to the pitch, spoke to the referee, and then led his players down the tunnel and refused to re-enter the playing field after the officials failed to give him reassurances that action would be taken. Vieira was unwilling to have any of his players subjected to such abuse - and that shows the values of the man.