MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Overwhelming support for Dani Alves from FIFA, fellow players and Dilma

The banana incident: “I take this thing with humor” said the Brazilian player

FIFA president Joseph Blatter and several top players came out in support Monday of Barcelona right-back Dani Alves, who ate half of a banana that was thrown at him in a racist gesture a day earlier during his side's 3-2 win at Villarreal.

 Alves reacted by eating half of the banana - which was thrown when Barca were losing 1-0 - and throwing the rest of it beyond the touchline.

“I take these things with humor and try not to make a big drama out of them. What was the point in complaining?” he said afterward.

Alves is dark-skinned. Some fans have begun to make racist statements at games by throwing bananas at black players, implying that they are monkeys.

Alves then claimed that the energy given him by the banana helped him to contribute to Barca's late comeback win. Two of Alves' centers turned to own goals from Villarreal defenders, then Lionel Messi scored a late winner for Barca.

Blatter tweeted Monday: ”What Alves had to tolerate is an outrage. There will be zero tolerance (of racism) at the World Cup.“

Blatter, referring to this summer's tournament in Alves' native Brazil, added: ”We must fight all forms of discrimination united.“

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff joined the widespread outrage about the incident.

”The player Dani Alves gave a daring and strong response to racism in sports,“ she said in a series of Twitter messages, adding that such racism had become ”unfortunately common.“

In addition, several players have backed Alves' reaction. Manchester City's Sergio Aguero posted a photo of him with Brazilian female player Marta eating bananas in support.

Alves' Barca and Brazil colleague Neymar - who missed the game through injury - posted a picture of himself holding a banana in a demonstration of solidarity. This gesture was repeated on Instagram by Chelsea's Brazilian trio of Oscar, David Luiz and Willian.

Meanwhile, fellow Brazilian internationals Hulk, Fred and Lucas Leiva displayed their support through their social media accounts, with Leiva writing on Twitter: ”Congratulations on your attitude yesterday. We are together in this fight against racism.“

Villarreal officials have said they have identified the banana thrower and have hit him with a lifetime ban stadium ban. A statement on the club's official website read: ”The club deeply regrets and condemns the incident.