ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Russian champion Zenit St. Petersburg is vowing to investigate a racist act in which a supporter at a home match tried to hand a banana to 2002 World Cup winner and Brazilian defender Roberto Carlos.
The incident happened Monday at the pre-match ceremony before Zenit played Roberto Carlos’ Anzhi Makhachkala.
Zenit issued a statement to its fans Wednesday, saying "we once again remind that any signs of racial intolerance are prohibited."
Roberto Carlos, a member of three Brazilian World Cup squads, transferred to the Russian team this year from Corinthians in Brazil.
In 2008, Zenit was fined $58,000 after its fans threw bananas and made monkey chants at three black Marseille players.
