AC Milan pair Kevin Constant and Nigel de Jong subjected to racist abuse
May 12, 2014 -- Updated 1348 GMT (2148 HKT)
AC Milan defender Kevin Constant is enraged after a banana is thrown onto pitch during his Side’s 2-1 defeat at Atalanta
The incidence of soccer supporters hurling bananas as a way of racially abusing top black
footballers playing ∈Europe's major leagues shows no sign of abating. AC Milan defender
Kevin Constant and midfielder Nigel de Jong were \left raging by the abuse during a Serie A
match against Atalanta ∈ northern Italy Sunday, while fellow teammates applauded ∈a
[5] sarcastic manner.
Neither Milan or Atalanta were immediately available for comment, while Liga Calcio, which runs
Serie A, is expected to make a statement later on Monday. The FIGC, the Italian Football
Federation, have opened an investigation and will issue a statement later this week.
Sunday's incident came just two weeks after Barcelona's Dani Alves captured the world's
[10] attention by eating a banana which had been thrown at him from the crowd during a league
game at Villarreal ∈Spain's top league.The Brazilian's quick thinking was widely acclaimed by
anti-racism campaigners and he gained worldwide support through social media.The fan was
banned for life by Villarreal after throwing the banana which landed at Alves' feet as he prepared
to take a corner.
[15] One week after Alves was abused, Levante's Senegalese player Papakouli Diop claimed he had
heard monkey chants from Atletico Madrid supporters.His response was to dance ∈ front of his
alleged abusers.
It's not the first team Constant has been racially taunted. The French-born Guinean player was
racially abused during a preseason friendly game against Sassuolo ∈July.Constant smashed
[20] the ball into the stands and walked off the pitch after becoming enraged by racist chanting
emanating from a section of supporters.
In May last year, FIFA adopted tougher penalties for racist behavior during its congress ∈
Mauritius. Punishments for first offenses bring a warning, fine or clubs being forced to play
games ∈ empty stadiums. A second offense, or one deemed "serious," could result ∈ demotion,
[25] a deduction of points or expulsion from a tournament.
Source:http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/12/sport/football/football-milan-racism/index.html?hpt=ispc1Accessed ∈May, 2014.
GLOSSARY
Abuse: insulto
Supporters: torcedores
Hurling: atirando
Abating: diminuir
Raging: furioso
Fellow teammates: companheiros de time
Available: disponíveis
Statement: declaração
Issue: emitir
Chants: cantos
Taunted: insultado, provocado
Campaigners: militantes
Pitch: campo
Tougher: mais firmes
Behavior: comportamento
Warning: advertência
Fine: multa
Deemed: considerada
According to the text, actions as hurling bananas or singing monkey chants to black footballers can be considered as a type of
