Milan: Atalanta fans hurled bananas at AC Milan's Guinean defender Kevin Constant on Sunday in the latest racist storm to hit European football. Two bananas were thrown at Constant and near Nigel de Jong near the end of Milan's 2-1 defeat at Atalanta.
The insult came two weeks after a banana was thrown at Barcelona's Brazilian defender Dani Alves. Sunday's flashpoint during a second half stoppage with play deep in Atalanta's half. Constant picked up a banana thrown at him to give to the referee, and as he did so another landed near Dutch teammate De Jong, who is of Surinamese-Indonesian descent.
De Jong and Milan's French defender Phillipe Mexes sarcastically applauded the home fans. Milan coach Clarence Seedorf called for the banana-throwers to banned for life and applauded his players' reaction. "It's an unfortunate incident that, thanks to the lads' professionalism, did not affect them for the rest of the game," Seedorf told Sky Sport.
"I hope that whoever was responsible will be banned from attending matches for life." Atalanta coach Stefano Colantuono added: "The only thing I can say, since we're on the theme of fruit -- whoever threw the banana should be hit on the head with a coconut.
He added: "It's the same old story, these kind of gestures are unacceptable and I'm sorry something like this has ruined a good match between the sides, and a day of celebration for us." European football's governing body UEFA this week blasted racist attacks in Spain and called for action after fans subjected foreign players to monkey taunts and banana-throwing.
On April 27, Alves calmly picked up the banana hurled at him by a Villarreal fan and bit a chunk out of it. But there was many protests by black players after the game. Milan's defeat may have confirmed Seedorf's anticipated departure from the club at the end of the season amid reports he has failed to win over club president Silvio Berlusconi despite dragging the Rossoneri away from the league doldrums.
Milan were looking to build on a 1-0 derby win over Inter last week that put them firmly in contention for a place in the Europa League. The visitors looked to be heading for a share of the spoils after striker German Denis levelled for the hosts from the spot a quarter hour after Gianpaolo Bellini had put the ball past his own goalkeeper Andrea Consigli to give Milan a 1-0 lead.
Milan were stunned in the sixth minute of added time when substitute Franco Brienza sent an unstoppable shot past Christian Abbiati. Milan dropped one place to ninth behind Verona, who were held 2-2 by Udinese on Saturday, and Parma, who were away to Torino later Sunday.
Inter qualified for Europe's second tier competition with a 4-1 win at home to Lazio on Saturday and Fiorentina, currently fourth, have already secured their spot. There is now only one place up for grabs. Torino could secure the third and final place with an away victory at Parma that would give them a four-point lead over Parma, Verona and Milan with one game remaining.
Seedorf added: "It's a shame about the result, but we have to wait and see what happens in Torino v Parma. We gave it everything and you can't ask more. "I'm not looking ahead any further than our final game next week and finishing the season as best as we can.
"I am giving 100 per cent, so my conscience is clear." Juventus secured their third consecutive scudetto last weekend and are away to Roma, second and 11 points adrift, later in the day.
A win would see Antonio Conte's visitors amass 99 points and thus beat Inter's Serie A record of 97 for their title-winning 2007 season, with one game in the season remaining.
Roma are assured of the second automatic Champions League qualifying spot while Napoli, away to Sampdoria, will play in next season's competition if they negotiate the qualifying stages.
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