Levante player 'dancing like monkey' in response to racial abuse from Atlético fans
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Just a week after a Villarreal fan threw a banana at Barcelona player Daniel Alves, Levante's Pape Diop responded to racist chants from Atlético Madrid fans by "dancing like a monkey."
Levante's 2-0 home win on Sunday finished with a corner for the home side, followed by a celebration from Diop in front of the Atlético supporters.
Diop danced away in front of a section of the 8,000 away fans, which resulted in a minor scuffle involving the Senegalese and some of the Atlético players.
But Diop later explained that he was merely responding to racial abuse from the travelling Atlético supporters.
In his post-match interview, Diop said: "I went to take a corner and part of the Atlético support started doing monkey chants.
"To take the heat out of the situation, I started to dance, but I didn't insult anyone.
"I don't have anything against the Atlético supporters because it was only a section of their support that shouted at me.
"I think it's disrespectful that it happens at all stadiums. It's a provocation. I don't know if it can be called racism, but the monkey chanting has to be stopped now."
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| Atlético Madrid players confront Levante's Pape Diop following his celebratory dance Photo: MARCA |
Levante's 2-0 home win on Sunday finished with a corner for the home side, followed by a celebration from Diop in front of the Atlético supporters.
Diop danced away in front of a section of the 8,000 away fans, which resulted in a minor scuffle involving the Senegalese and some of the Atlético players.
But Diop later explained that he was merely responding to racial abuse from the travelling Atlético supporters.
In his post-match interview, Diop said: "I went to take a corner and part of the Atlético support started doing monkey chants.
"To take the heat out of the situation, I started to dance, but I didn't insult anyone.
"I don't have anything against the Atlético supporters because it was only a section of their support that shouted at me.
"I think it's disrespectful that it happens at all stadiums. It's a provocation. I don't know if it can be called racism, but the monkey chanting has to be stopped now."
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Also see:
- Gianluigi Buffon calls for punishment on racist chants
- Was Mario Balotelli racially abused by Catania's Nicolás Spolli?
- AC Milan player Kevin Constant walks off pitch over alleged racist abuse
- Beitar Jerusalem fans walk out after THEIR OWN Muslim player's goal
- Chris Samba has banana thrown at his head
