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Spanish police arrest man suspected of throwing a banana at Barcelona's Dani Alves

The Brazilian defender has been widely praised for dismissing the racist act by eating the piece of fruit.

alves Bebeto7Oficial / Instagram Bebeto7Oficial / Instagram / Instagram

SPANISH POLICE HAVE arrested a spectator suspected of hurling a banana at Barcelona’s Brazilian defender Dani Alves, a slur that sparked a worldwide anti-racist uproar.

“The person has been detained,” a police spokesman told AFP without giving further details.

A fan threw a banana onto the pitch near the 30-year-old Brazilian international as he was about to take a corner during Barcelona’s away match against Villareal on Sunday night.

Alves won praise for his reaction, picking up the banana to take a bite before getting on with the game and setting up a goal in Barcelona’s dramatic come-from-behind 3-2 victory.

The incident sparked worldwide indigation, with Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff and FIFA president Sepp Blatter joining the anti-racist condemnation.

Villarreal said they had identified the fan who threw the banana, withdrawn his club membership and permanently banned him from their ground.

Dozens of players have also shown their support to Alves by posting pictures eating bananas on social media sites over the past couple of days.

- © AFP, 2014

LEOCASSIO SPORTS 2014 / YouTube

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    Mute Les Rock
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:04 PM

    Should do what Dani has said himself, name and shame him

    105
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    Mute ptriley
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:16 PM

    Racism is so ugly.The cnut who threw the banana should be named and shamed

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    Mute Laura Hughes
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:32 PM

    Superstar millionaire footballer, idol to millions – 1, racist moron who no one cares about – 0

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    Mute Stephen Byrne
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    Apr 30th 2014, 1:57 PM

    Hopefully charges will be pressed. This happens all to often in football

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    Mute Ahippo
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:19 PM

    He should be locked in a room with walls made of bananas and told to eat his way out.

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    Mute Emilio
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:43 PM

    He should be locked in a room full of rabid hungry monkeys. That’d teach him.

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    Mute AARO-SAURUS
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    Apr 30th 2014, 3:47 PM

    Dressed like a banana

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    Mute Michael Fitzgibbon
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:41 PM

    Villareal; always a potential banana skin.

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    Mute Glen
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:23 PM

    I think eating it was a bad idea considering its former owner.

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Apr 30th 2014, 4:15 PM

    Just to dim this somewhat fantastic cause that has started across the world it is actually the brainwave of a marketing company in Brazil who had orchestrated the entire thing for when either Neymar or Alves was next subjected to such treatment. The company already had a few thousand T-Shirts printed up which they are selling for €25. Highlighting the cause is what is very important but that a company seems to be capitalising on the whole thing to make money on the side is disappointing.

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    Mute Giuseppe
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    Apr 30th 2014, 3:50 PM

    Funny enough a guy in work hit me with a pear and a banana today….. I thought he wasn’t happy with me or was having a laugh. Tho the link to racism never crossed my mind….

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    Mute Pickart Solny
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    Apr 30th 2014, 5:54 PM

    It is hard to cross something that you do not have.

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    Mute Cpm
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    Apr 30th 2014, 1:58 PM

    The video is blocked

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    Mute vv7k7Z3c
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    Apr 30th 2014, 2:03 PM

    I’ve uploaded a new one which should work, thanks.

    23
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