Imogen Calderwood
TWITTER has exploded with a spontaneous anti-racism campaign, as banana-eating footballer Dani Alves slams ‘backward’ Spain.
Now a hero of social media, the Barcelona right-back picked up and ate a banana, thrown by a racist fan during Sunday’s 3-2 win at Villarreal.
Alves, who has lived in Spain for more than a decade, has now denounced the country’s ‘racist’ attitude.
“They sell their country as being first-world, but in some things they are backward,” he said, claiming the supporter should be publicly shamed.
The ‘banana incident’ has sparked outcry among the global sporting community.
Growing numbers of celebrities and athletes are tweeting pictures of themselves eating bananas in solidarity.
Teammate Neymar started the trend, posting a picture of himself and his young son posing with bananas.
Since then, banana photos have flooded Twitter, including fellow Brazilians ‘Hulk’ and ‘Fred’, as well as Argentinian Sergio Aguero and Brazil women’s striker Marta.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi joined the spur-of-the-moment anti-racism campaign, sharing a banana with Italian coach Cesare Prandelli.
A clever defiant gesture. But not one to be repeated, the next one may be laced.
This was fantastic, but hopefully that’s the end of it now. Time to move on (from the dark ages)
Here we go again, Derek kicking it into the long grass. Can anyone really believe that eating a banana will eliminate Spanish racism ?
The Spanish are a very racist people, racism is ingrained into their psyche. Sad but very true still, in 2014.
Racism, hopefully that’s the end of it. I love Derek’s sayings, they should be in a book. For amusement.