VILLARREAL HAVE HANDED down a life ban to the fan who threw a banana at Barcelona’s Dani Alves last night.

Alves’ unflappable response — he picked up the banana and ate it before carrying on with game — was widely praised across the football world.

Some of the game’s biggest names including Neymar, Hulk and Sergio Aguero showed their support by taking photos of themselves eating bananas with the slogan “Somos todos macacos” (“We are all monkeys”).

A club statement said: “Villarreal CF wants to communicate that the club deeply regrets and condemns the incident that happened yesterday during the match against FC Barcelona in which a fan threw an object onto the field of El Madrigal.

Thanks to the security forces and the invaluable assistance of the amarilla crowd, the club has already identified the author and has decided to withdraw his season tickets, permanently banning his access to El Madrigal stadium.

“Once again our club would like to express its firm commitment to promoting respect, equality, sportsmanship and fair play both on and off the field and our absolute rejection of any act that is contrary to these principles, such as violence, discrimination, racism and xenophobia.”

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