From Sergio Agüero to Jay Sherlock, everyone has been giving their support to Dani Alves
On Sunday, Barcelona star Dani Alves was racially abused by a fan at Villareal, who threw a banana at him. His reaction was fantastic, picking it up and eating it, then adding in the press conference afterwards that the extra potassium helped him to provide assists for the two goals. Since then, players and sports stars from around the world have been showing their support by posting pictures of themselves with a banana on their social media profiles.
Fellow Brazil and Barcelona teammate Neymar was one of the first to get in on the act, while in England, both Philippe Coutinho and Luis Suárez also posed with the fruit yesterday too.
Sergio Agüro was also keen to join in, as was Brazilian female footballer/legend Marta, who were snapped together yesterday.
With my colleague Marta from Brazil we say #NoToRacism. We are all equal. pic.twitter.com/0kWLsaAgwP
— Sergio Aguero (@aguerosergiokun) April 28, 2014
His fellow Brazilians based in the Premier League and all over the world also joined in to support him, including Oscar, David Luiz, Willian and Hulk.
Here in Ireland, Jayo Sherlock got in on the act too, as a man who has spoken in the past about experiencing racism on the playing field.
You can't beat a banana to give u energy! pic.twitter.com/I9IR2ac3NM
— Jason Sherlock (@boomjayo) April 29, 2014
In Italy, both Mario Balotelli and even Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi (alongside national team coach Cesare Prandelli) showed their support.
Racism in global news: everyone's getting in on #bananagate after the Alves incident. Here's Italy's PM @matteorenzi: pic.twitter.com/T1QP3wknlH
— Diana (@hypomanicII) April 28, 2014
Bundesliga stars and Borussia Dortmund strikers Robert Lewandowski and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang also rallied to say no to racism.
Robert Lewandowski and @Aubameyang7 give Dani Alves their support @BVB http://t.co/MWuMETPSkT pic.twitter.com/c7iiXkF1fP
— Bundesliga (@Bundesliga_EN) April 29, 2014
Even the front page of Marca went for a banana-themed adjustment to their usual logo in a gesture of solidarity, while boxing heavyweight (see what we did there?) Wladimir Klitschko was in on the act too.
Marca's front page logo adjustment RT @filippomricci Geniale @marca in Edicola oggi! pic.twitter.com/EB61OIRdUJ
— Christian Machowski (@Christian_ESEM) April 29, 2014
What an impressive statement! @DaniAlvesD2 #NoToRacism pic.twitter.com/27xLb3GjsY
— Klitschko (@Klitschko) April 29, 2014
As a final update, it also seems that Villareal have found the fan responsible for the incident, and he has been given a lifetime ban.
So @VillarrealCF has identified the guy that threw the banana: lifetime ban. Barcelona admits not the club's fault. Now time 4 FA to act
— Guillem Balague (@GuillemBalague) April 29, 2014
