MADRID, Feb 17 - Spain's Anti-violence Commission
has opened an investigation into incidents of racist abuse that
took place during last Saturday's league match between Real
Zaragoza and Barcelona.
Barcelona striker Samuel Eto'o was greeted with monkey
chants whenever he touched the ball at the Romareda stadium and
peanuts were thrown on to the pitch after he scored one of the
goals in his side's 4-1 victory.
Eto'o, who was named African Player of the Year for the
second time in succession earlier this week, celebrated his goal
by imitating a monkey.
"I danced like a monkey because they treated me like a
monkey," the 23-year-old told reporters after the game.
The Spanish Football Federation did not take any action as
the incidents were not mentioned in the match report of referee
Fernando Carmona Mendez, who noted only that the behaviour of
the crowd had been "normal".
But the government-run Anti-violence Commission has since
decided to launch an investigation into the incidents after they
were remarked upon by security officials at the game.