Barcelona FC Defender Dani Alves showed how to be sporty while facing a racial attack during the game with Villarreal. A Villarreal season-ticket holder threw a banana on Alves' path while he was about to take a corner in Sunday's game at the El Madrigal Stadium.

Alves boldly retorted to the racial taunt by picking up the banana and eating it. After the match the defender said humor was the best way to retort against racism. "We have suffered this in Spain for some time.. You have to take it with a dose of humour.

We aren't going to change things easily. If you don't give it importance, they don't achieve their objective." Alves said after the game on Sunday. Alves instantly inspired fellow footballers and colleagues from other clubs to respond to racist attacks.

Neymar posted an picture on Instagram holding a peeled banana with his son. Argentina striker Segio Aguero and Brazil women's striker Marta posted photos of them biting into bananas. Luis Suarez who is facing a ban for racism also joined the anti-racism campaign by posting a picture of Liverpool's Philippe Coutinho and him biting into bananas.

Barca and Fifa extended their support to Alves for responding deservingly to racism. Villarreal immediately handed a lifetime ban to the culprit and issued a statement regretting the incident. Brazil President Dilma Rousseff supported Alves and praised Neymar for supporting his teammate against racism."The player had a daring and strong response to racism in sport..Confronted by something that unfortunately has become too common in stadiums, Alves had attitude." Rousseff tweeted.