Roberto Carlos faces racist attack in Russia

Updated on: 24 June,2011 07:08 AM IST |
AFP |

Racist fan throws fruit at defender in Russian league

Racist fan throws fruit at defender in Russian league

Carlos, a defender for revamped Caucasus side Anzhi Makhachkala since February, received a pass from the goalkeeper and was about to pass it when a banana was thrown on to the pitch, landing nearby.

Roberto Carlos

The 38-year-old Brazilian picked it up and threw it back, walking off the field before the final whistle and raising two fingers at the stands, indicating this was the second such incident since March.

Both Anzhi and their hosts ufffd Krylya Sovetov of the Volga city of Samara ufffd denounced the insult and vowed to find the culprit.

"The stadium is no place for racism," Anzhi said in a statement after the match, demanding that the fan be identified and punished.

It is the second such incident in a matter of months. In March a fan was pictured holding the fruit out to Carlos during a game against Zenit Saint Petersburg. Zenit was fined 300,000 roubles ($10,700) and banned the fan from its games.

Carlos was shown after the incident sitting down on the bench and burying his head in a towel in distress. "Such things should not be tolerated in civilised countries," he told Sport Express newspaper after the match. He added that he "felt deep disappointment and had no desire to continue the game," which Anzhi ended up winning 3-0.

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