The transfer of Roberto Carlos, once Brazil’s star player, to a local Russian club was a huge deal in Russia. (It was a huge deal in the West too, but for different reasons – few understood (cha-ching) Carlos’ reasons for picking up and moving to Dagestan, one of the most dangerous corners of Russia, wracked by a growing insurgency and violent conflict for local power.)

The euphoria of having a star (if slightly over the hill) player didn’t last long. During one of his first games with Anzhi Makhachkala, Roberto Carlos had a banana waved in his face by a fan of the opposing team, Zenit St Petersburg, Russia’s Premier League Champion. Not cool. See the disturbing photo here.

On Thursday, the club was fined $10,000 by the Russian Football Union. Zenit had already said the fan would be banned from its Petrovsky Stadium for life.

Football has a notorious tendency to attract racists, and Russia is no exception. In 2008, Zenit was $58,000 after its fans threw bananas and made monkey chants at three black players from Marseille. Yet more proof that Russia has a lot of work to do – and not just on infrastructure – before it hosts the World Cup in 2018.