Alan Pardew leaves CSKA Sofia after bananas thrown at Black players

Alan Pardew has left his role as manager and technical director of CSKASofia with immediate effect after a section of supporters targeted their own team's Black players with racist abuse.

The team lost the Bulgaria cup final to Levski Sofia last month, and after talks with the club&s owner, Pardew planned to stay on and take charge of the team next season.

A week after the cup final, the CSKA team arrived to play a league match against Botev Plovdiv and were met by angry fans outside the stadium.

Four players were subjected to racist abuse and had bananas thrown at them. They initially refused to play in the game, but were persuaded to do so.

Sky Sports News understands that Pardew was angry and upset at the incident, and sought urgent talks with the club's bosses.

He decided to leave the club in the light of that incident, along with his assistant Alex Dyer, who was the first black man to hold a coaching role at the club.

The events before and after the match against Botev Plovdiv were unacceptable for Pardew, his assistant and his players. The players decided to play for the club.

The small group of racist fans who tried to sabotage the game are not the fans I want to coach the team in front of. That is not the right way for CSKA because they deserve more.

I would like to express my gratitude to all true CSKA fans. I would like to thank the club owners for their efforts to bring the club forward despite the challenges.

It has been an honor to serve this club. My time here has come to an end.

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