Watch how Barcelona’s Dani Alves responds to a banana thrown at him during a soccer game

What started out as a racist taunt has turned into a global campaign against racism in soccer.

Barcelona defender Dani Alves was preparing to take a corner kick during a game at Villarreal on Sunday when a spectator threw a banana onto the pitch.

The piece of fruit landed near the Brazilian player. He responded by picking up the banana, peeling it, eating it and then taking the shot.

Watch Alves' very cool reaction to the racist abuse here. 

Fellow soccer stars, coaches and even politicians quickly began showing their support for Alves by posting photos of themselves holding a banana with the hashtag #SomosTodosMacacos, which is Spanish for “We are all monkeys,” or #NoToRacism.

“We have suffered this in Spain for some time," Alves said after the game, which Barcelona won 3-2.

"You have to take it with a dose of humor. We aren't going to change things easily. If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective."

Alves had the last laugh over the racist incident. Villarreal slapped a life ban on the banana-throwing fan. 

Italian PM Matteo Renzi and Italian national team manager Cesare Prandelli

View post on X

Chelsea FC players

View post on X

AS Monaco FC defender Eric Abidal 

View post on X

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero and Brazilian player Marta 

View post on X

Barcelona teammate Neymar

View post on X

Bohemian FC defender Roberto Lopes

View post on X
Support independent news and 3x your impact!

The World is an independent newsroom. We’re not funded by billionaires; instead, we rely on readers and listeners like you. As a listener, you’re a crucial part of our team and our global community. If you’ve been thinking about making a donation, this is the best time to do it. Your support is vital to running our nonprofit newsroom, and we can’t do this work without you. All donations between now and June 30 will be matched 2:1. Will you help keep our newsroom on strong footing by giving to The World?