Russian soccer club for racist act by fan

Russian soccer club for racist act by fan

Published Apr. 7, 2011 1:12 p.m. ET

The Russian soccer team Zenit St. Petersburg has been fined $10,000 after one of its fans offered a banana to Brazilian star Roberto Carlos.

The action by the fan came last month during a ceremony before Zenit played Roberto Carlos' Anzhi Makhachkala.

The fine by the Russian Football Union was confirmed by Zenit on its website Thursday. The team reportedly had said the fan would be banned for life from its stadium.

Roberto Carlos, who is black, played on three World Cup teams for Brazil. He transferred to the Russian team this year from Corinthians in Brazil.

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In 2008, Zenit was fined $58,000 after fans threw bananas and made monkey chants at three black Marseille players.

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