Monkey Business
The North Korean government is prone to hyperbole and over the top language, but its recent outburst comparing President Barack Obama to a 'monkey' is a sign that the People's Republic is run by unimaginative party hacks who quickly resort to racial abuse when they can think of nothing more intelligent to say.
Just like the hooligans at football matches.
Monkey Business (4 May 2014)
One of the good news stories to emerge in recent weeks is the response to the Barcelona footballer, Dani Alves, who made a monkey out of an opposing fan who threw a banana at the player as he was just about to take a corner kick.
But instead of being put off by this crude and racist behaviour, Alves casually picked up the banana and took a bite before getting on with his game - mocking his tormentor and inspiring people worldwide to follow his example.
So footballers and non-footballers, black and white, men and women - have joined in the fun since and given a boost to the message that this kind of offensive behaviour has no place in the 'beautiful' game.
Meanwhile the police and the banana thrower's team (Villarreal) have both done their bit - the police by charging the idiot involved and Villarreal by handing him a lifetime ban, presumably on the basis that the club wants to have nothing to do with people who behave in this vile way.
A win-win all round.
Spanish police arrest Dani Alves banana thrower suspect
But instead of being put off by this crude and racist behaviour, Alves casually picked up the banana and took a bite before getting on with his game - mocking his tormentor and inspiring people worldwide to follow his example.
So footballers and non-footballers, black and white, men and women - have joined in the fun since and given a boost to the message that this kind of offensive behaviour has no place in the 'beautiful' game.
Meanwhile the police and the banana thrower's team (Villarreal) have both done their bit - the police by charging the idiot involved and Villarreal by handing him a lifetime ban, presumably on the basis that the club wants to have nothing to do with people who behave in this vile way.
A win-win all round.
Spanish police arrest Dani Alves banana thrower suspect
Dani Alves told the BBC that Sunday's racist insult was not an isolated case
Spanish police say they have arrested a spectator suspected of throwing a banana at Barcelona's Brazilian footballer Dani Alves last weekend.
The racist incident took place as the player was about to take a corner in a match at Villarreal on Sunday.
Alves responded by peeling and eating the banana - which received praise worldwide and sparked a large social media campaign against racism.
The man detained has been identified as a 26-year-old Villarreal supporter.
He has been named as David Campaya Lleo, local media say.
The club said earlier the man involved had had his season ticket withdrawn and been given a lifetime ban.
The Barcelona defender expressed his surprise at the outpouring of support in the wake of the banana affair. His team eventually won the match 3-2, at Villareal's El Madrigal stadium in Castellon on Spain's east coast.
Alves told BBC Brasil on Wednesday it was "not an isolated incident", and that he had been denouncing racist insults for six years.
"I hope that this (campaign) can be an alert to ban this kind of attitude from football altogether. I hope the debate about racial prejudice will not fade away, but stays on permanently and not be restricted only to football," he added.
Lifetime ban
Reports suggest the suspect in detention may have had links to one of the Villarreal's youth teams, although the team has not commented on this.
In a statement earlier this week, Villarreal said the club "deeply regrets and condemns the incident".
Spanish police say they have arrested a spectator suspected of throwing a banana at Barcelona's Brazilian footballer Dani Alves last weekend.
The racist incident took place as the player was about to take a corner in a match at Villarreal on Sunday.
Alves responded by peeling and eating the banana - which received praise worldwide and sparked a large social media campaign against racism.
The man detained has been identified as a 26-year-old Villarreal supporter.
He has been named as David Campaya Lleo, local media say.
The club said earlier the man involved had had his season ticket withdrawn and been given a lifetime ban.
The Barcelona defender expressed his surprise at the outpouring of support in the wake of the banana affair. His team eventually won the match 3-2, at Villareal's El Madrigal stadium in Castellon on Spain's east coast.
Alves told BBC Brasil on Wednesday it was "not an isolated incident", and that he had been denouncing racist insults for six years.
"I hope that this (campaign) can be an alert to ban this kind of attitude from football altogether. I hope the debate about racial prejudice will not fade away, but stays on permanently and not be restricted only to football," he added.
Lifetime ban
Reports suggest the suspect in detention may have had links to one of the Villarreal's youth teams, although the team has not commented on this.
In a statement earlier this week, Villarreal said the club "deeply regrets and condemns the incident".
The Italian premier (left) and national football coach share a moment of solidarity with Dani Alves
In earlier comments to Brazil's Radio Globo, Alves said he wanted the opposition fan who threw the banana to be publicly shamed.
He also criticised Spain for its approach to racism, saying: "They sell the country as being first world but in certain things they are very backward."
The hashtag "we are all monkeys" took Twitter by storm after fellow Brazilian footballer Neymar tweeted a photo of himself smiling on Instagram with a banana, side by side with his toddler son.
Professional footballers, celebrities and ordinary people alike have since posted photos of themselves, banana in hand, on social media.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi became the latest public figure to join the campaign when he posed for reporters, sharing a banana with Italian football coach Cesare Prandelli.
In earlier comments to Brazil's Radio Globo, Alves said he wanted the opposition fan who threw the banana to be publicly shamed.
He also criticised Spain for its approach to racism, saying: "They sell the country as being first world but in certain things they are very backward."
The hashtag "we are all monkeys" took Twitter by storm after fellow Brazilian footballer Neymar tweeted a photo of himself smiling on Instagram with a banana, side by side with his toddler son.
Professional footballers, celebrities and ordinary people alike have since posted photos of themselves, banana in hand, on social media.
Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi became the latest public figure to join the campaign when he posed for reporters, sharing a banana with Italian football coach Cesare Prandelli.
