MEXICO CITY (AP) — Former Newcastle United winger Allan Saint-Maximin's spell with Club America in Mexico’s top-flight has ended abruptly after a racist incident involving his children, the club announced on Saturday.
The 28-year-old Saint-Maximin played just 16 league matches, nine of them as a starter and was in the first of a two-year contract that he signed last August.
“The problem is not the color of skin, it’s the color of thoughts. I am being attacked, that’s not a problem. I have grown up, I have learned to fight against attacks. But there is one thing I will never tolerate, and that is attacks on my children,” wrote Maxin on his social media accounts on Thursday.
Neither the player or Club America went onto specifics about the incident.
Saint-Maximin moved to Mexico after a one-year stint with Turkey’s Fenerbahce where he played on loan from Saudi Arabia’s Al Ahli.
He traveled alongside his wife and his three children: two daughters named Lyana and Ninhia, and a son named Dayde.
"It’s regrettable that an act of racism occurred against his daughters, something that had already happened more than once. It was something he wouldn’t tolerate, and we condemn it,” said Club América's coach André Jardine on Saturday.
“Unfortunately, he went through that, and now we must demand action against racism because there is no place for it in the world.”
America announced the move after securing a 2-0 win over Necaxa in the fourth round of the Clausura tournament. Saint-Maximin was not with the team for the match.
Jardine, who led Brazil to the gold medal in the 2020 Olympic Games, added that besides racism, the French player struggled to adapt to Mexico City.
“He’s a fantastic player who was doing well, he has the level for any league in the world, but it was a big change for him to come from Europe to Mexico,” added the coach. “There are things that weigh on him: his family, the food, his habits, and the way of life.”
Saint-Maximin, a former France youth international, debuted with Saint-Etienne in his home country, moved to Monaco and Nice, and in 2019 to Newcastle in the English Premier League, where he spent four seasons.
He scored 13 goals across 124 appearances for the Magpies, but struggled with injuries.
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FILE - Fenerbahce's Allan Saint-Maximin, right, challenges for the ball with AZ Alkmaar's Alexandre Penetra during the Europa League soccer match between AZ Alkmaar and Fenerbahce at the AFAS stadium, in Alkmaar, Netherlands, Nov. 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Maurice van Steen, File)
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Donovan Mitchell had 25 points and six rebounds, Max Strus' 3-pointer with 54 seconds left helped seal it as he scored 24, and the Cleveland Cavaliers beat the Golden State Warriors 118-111 on Thursday night.
James Harden contributed 19 points and five assists as the Cavs won for the seventh time in nine games during a stretch playing five times in eight nights.
Gui Santos and Brandin Podziemski scored 25 points apiece for the Warriors, who were missing Stephen Curry for the 27th straight game but his return could come as soon as Sunday. He scrimmaged 5-on-5 for the third time in as many days to test his injured right knee that has sidelined him since Jan. 30.
Coach Steve Kerr said Curry and Vice President of Player Health and Performance Rick Celebrini might decide as soon as Friday based on how Curry feels a day later whether he can return to face the Rockets.
With 9:28 left, Cleveland's Dennis Schroder made a hard foul from behind on a driving LJ Cryer and it was reviewed and ruled a Flagrant 1 for his leap and kick into the Warriors guard. Draymond Green was called for a technical on the play after he shoved Schroder while helping Cryer up from the floor.
Schroder was whistled for a technical seven seconds later then Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson — a former Warriors top assistant — received a technical.
Kristaps Porzingis had 16 points and seven rebounds for the Warriors after sitting out a 127-113 loss to San Antonio on Wednesday in the front end of a back-to-back, while Gary Payton II also rested his right knee for the first game before playing Thursday and matching his career high with 12 rebounds.
Golden State also got some other reinforcements back with the returns of Santos after he was hit in the pelvic bone and De'Anthony Melton from a sprained left thumb.
Green passed Larry Smith (6,440) for third on the Warriors' career rebounding list.
Cavaliers: Host Indiana on Sunday.
Warriors: Host Houston on Sunday night.
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA
Injured Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, left, watches from the bench with assistant coaches Kris Weems, middle, and Jerry Stackhouse during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, middle, reaches for the ball against Golden State Warriors guard Pat Spencer, right, and guard De'Anthony Melton, bottom, during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors guard Brandin Podziemski, left, shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green (23) gestures toward an official during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
Cleveland Cavaliers guard James Harden (1) looks to pass the ball while being defended by Golden State Warriors guard Will Richard during the first half of an NBA basketball game in San Francisco, Thursday, April 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)
