Fan held for bringing banana to a football match in Siberia

A football fan, who carried a banana in his bag, has been briefly detained before a match in the Siberian city of Novosibirsk, the official website of Russia’s First Division said.

The incident took place before a game between Russia’s First Division clubs Yenisey Krasnoyarsk and Sibir Novosibirsk on Monday.

A banana has become a symbol of racist attacks in Russian football after two incidents involving Brazilian footballer Roberto Carlos. Both Yenisey and Sibir have no black players, however.

“He [the fan] was detained by police who demanded him to write an explanation of why he brought a banana to the stadium,” the website said.

“Later, he was informed of consequences that throwing a banana to the field may entail, and was allowed to return to his seat.”

In late June, Samara club Krylya Sovetov was fined 300,000 rubles ($10,630) following an incident when a fan threw a banana in the direction of Carlos.

This is not the first time the 38-year-old Brazilian, who won the 2002 World Cup, has been subjected to an act of racism in Russia. A half-peeled banana was also thrust at Carlos in St. Petersburg in March, ahead of the first game of the season.

 

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