Barcelona’s Dani Alves eats banana thrown at him in response to racist taunt at Villarreal

VILLARREAL, Spain – Barcelona defender Dani Alves responded to a racist taunt when a banana landed at his feet during Sunday’s game at Villarreal by picking up the fruit, peeling and then eating it before proceeding to take a corner kick.

Alves had already played a key part in sparking the team’s 3-2 comeback when his off-target shot was turned into an own goal Gabriel Armando in the 65th.

And shortly after the banana incident, Alves launched a cross that Mateo Musacchio headed into his own goal in the 78th before Lionel Messi scored Barcelona’s winner.

Alves has often been subjected to racist taunts and called fighting racism “a lost war” in January 2013, after segments of Real Madrid’s fans abused him with monkey chants during a match.