Man arrested over Barcelona banana throwing incident

Man City's Yaya Toure has posted a picture on Twitter of himself posing with a banana in support of the anti-racism campaign sparked by Barcelona right-back Dani Alves eating banana after a fan threw one on the pitch during a football match in Spain.

Read: Man arrested over Barcelona banana throwing incident

Barcelona right-back Dani Alves has said that Spain is "very backward" in its approach towards racism after a fan hurled a banana on the pitch in Barcelona's game away to Villarreal on Sunday.

Alves was speaking to Brazil's Radio Globo when he said: "If I could, I would put a photo of the fan on the internet so that he would be shamed.

"There is racism against foreigners. They sell the country as being first world but in certain things they are very backward."

Responding to the internet campaign the incident sparked, he added: "I have been surprised by everyone's support. I did it without thinking. The world has evolved and we must evolve with it."

Read: Man arrested over Barcelona banana throwing incident

Spanish Police have arrested a 26-year-old for throwing a banana onto the pitch in a La Liga match towards Dani Alves over the weekend, according to media outlets.

Barcelona right-back, Dani Alves, ate the banana and sparked a huge online anti-racism campaign that has been back by a number of other high profile footballers.

According to Spanish press, police arrested a fan at 7.15pm on Tuesday evening and charged him for a "crime against the fundamental rights and public freedoms as stated in Article 510 of the Penal Code".

Read: Football stars join banana anti-racism protests

Retired Premier League player Paul Mortimer said he was "shocked but not surprised" by racist abuse shown towards FC Barcelona defender Dani Alves on Sunday, when the player had a banana thrown at him on the pitch.

Mortimer, Professional Player Engagement Manager of the sport's anti-racism group Kick It Out, described the response of players who have tweeted pictures of themselves eating bananas - echoing Alves' actions on the pitch - as "fantastic" and supportive".

Mario Balotelli is the latest high-profile footballer to pose with a banana in support of FC Barcelona defender Dani Alves, who reacted to racist taunts by eating a banana that was thrown at him during Sunday's match at Villareal.

The former Manchester City striker posted the picture on his Instagram account and tweeted the link to his more than two million Twitter followers.

The Italian striker accompanied the shot with the message: #WeAreAllMonkeys, #NoToRacism. Siamo tutti scimmie!

It follows similar pictures posted on social media by Neymar, Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez after Alves' unconventional response to the incident.

Read: Liverpool's Luis Suarez poses with banana in anti-racism campaign