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Barcelona and Espanyol condemn 'shameful' racist abuse aimed at Dani Alves in Sunday night's Catalan derby
The Brazilian full back was subjected to monkey chants by sections of the home crowd during Sunday night's 1-1 draw between the two city rivals at Cornella in La Liga
Jan 9, 2012 8:00:00 AM
By Ben Hayward
Getty Images
Barcelona and Espanyol have both condemned the racial abuse aimed at full-back Dani Alves in Sunday night's Catalan derby at Cornella.
Alves has been subjected to racial slurs in the past at Espanyol and the Brazilian was the victim again on Sunday as sections of the home crowd targeted the full-back with a torrent of verbal attacks and persistent monkey chants.
Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa was infuriated by the abuse as he wrote on Twitter: "The racist chants against Alves are shameful."
And after the match, Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino called for racism to be eradicated from the game altogether.
"We condemn it, we want to get away from these situations," he told reporters in his postmatch press conference. "We want to eradicate these things and I'm right behind that.''
Alves, who set up Barca's goal in the 1-1 draw with a cross which was headed home by Cesc Fabregas, claimed he was unaware of the chants.
"I didn't hear anything because I'm only thinking about the field of play," he said.
Alves has been subjected to racial slurs in the past at Espanyol and the Brazilian was the victim again on Sunday as sections of the home crowd targeted the full-back with a torrent of verbal attacks and persistent monkey chants.
Barcelona spokesman Toni Freixa was infuriated by the abuse as he wrote on Twitter: "The racist chants against Alves are shameful."
And after the match, Espanyol coach Mauricio Pochettino called for racism to be eradicated from the game altogether.
"We condemn it, we want to get away from these situations," he told reporters in his postmatch press conference. "We want to eradicate these things and I'm right behind that.''
Alves, who set up Barca's goal in the 1-1 draw with a cross which was headed home by Cesc Fabregas, claimed he was unaware of the chants.
"I didn't hear anything because I'm only thinking about the field of play," he said.
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