Pelé seemed to downplay the significance of the incident, describing it as a “banal fact” and expressing disagreement with the widespread portrayal of it as a wave of racism, particularly within football. He suggested that such incidents are rare in the context of the numerous football championships around the world.
Reflecting on his own experiences, Pelé recalled instances when he faced similar situations, such as having jackfruit and mangoes thrown at him during matches. Despite the challenges, Pelé emphasized that such incidents should not overshadow the broader issues of racism in society.
The incident occurred during a match between Villareal and FC Barcelona, where Dani Alves responded to a banana thrown at him by eating part of it before continuing to play. Alves’ response garnered widespread support on social media from players and football personalities, sparking discussions about racism in football and society as a whole.
