ESPN FC: No room for racism
FC’s Shaka Hislop gives his thoughts on Dani Alves’ reaction to the racist act aimed at the player against Villarreal.
ESPN FC: No room for racism
Levante midfielder Papakouli Diop did a brief dance after appearing to be subjected to monkey gestures from a section of Atletico Madrid fans during Sunday’s match.
APPapakouli Diop danced after claiming he was racially abused by Atletico fans.
The incident marks the second week running that a racism row has erupted in Spain after Barcelona’s Dani Alves took a bite out of a banana thrown at him from the crowd on April 27.
Diop, a Senegal international, said he was verbally abused throughout the game and decided to dance like a monkey in front of his alleged abusers immediately after the final whistle. Levante stunned title hopefuls Atletico 2-0.
“They called me monkey and I turned and imitated a monkey,” Diop said, according to Marca. “I’m tired of racism in football. And there’s a lot.”
Alves won widespread praise from fellow players and FIFA president Sepp Blatter for his actions in a match at Villarreal last week. By eating the banana, Alves tried to make his abuser’s taunt a rallying cry against racism, and Diop said his dance was done in a similar vein.
“I did the monkey dance to highlight the matter. I wanted people to know what happened.
“I do not know if it’s racist or disrespectful, but they have to stop the monkey noises made by some people.”
Alves’ actions started a social media campaign of players sharing photos of themselves eating bananas, and Barcelona officials have called to eliminate racism in Spanish football.