Barcelona defender Dani Alves has received tremendous support on social media after reacting to having Banana thrown at him during Sunday’s 3-2 win at Villareal.
The Brazilian mocked racists in the crowd by peeling the banana and then taking a bite.
The 30-year-old left-back was preparing to take a corner when the banana landed on the pitch.
“We have suffered this in Spain for some time. You have to take it with dose of humour,” Alves said.
Italian Prime Minister, Matteo Renzi, and Azzurris coach Cesare Pandrelli has lent their support to Alves’ sensational response. The pair were pictured sharing a bite of banana.
Barcelona issued a statement supporting their defender for his response to the incident.
“Barcelona wishes to express its complete support and solidarity with Dani Alves following the insults he was subject to,” read a club statement.
“Barcelona urges all clubs to continue fighting against the blight on the game which any kind of aggression against a sportsperson on the basis of race represent.”
Alves’ Brazil team-mate and Liverpool midfielder Lucas Leiva tweeted: “Congratulations on your attitude Dani, we are together in this fight against racism.”
Totenham Hotspur and Togolese striker Emmanuel Adebayor lent support via Twitter saying: “Massive respect to danid20is, there is no place for Racism in Football #saynotoracism.”
The Spanish media reported that match referee David Fernandez Borbalan made note of the incident and that the country’s football association, RFEF, will meet on Tuesday to discuss the matter. And also that Villarreal have banned the fan who threw the banana during the match.
The incident happened in the 75th minute of Barca’s 3-2 dramatic comeback win at Villareal.
SEA, Massive respect to danid2ois, there is no place for Racism in Football. #saynotoracism ( life’s… http://t.co/duPGo8SVbh
— Emmanuel Adebayor (@E_Adebayor) April 28, 2014
A Lionel Messi late winner kept Barca in the title race, after Villareal’s defenders Gabriel Paulista and Mateo Musacchio both scored own goals to put Barca level from Cani and Manu Trigueros’ strikes within 60 miuntes of play.
