The News: Anti-Racism Campaign

Seguramente os suene la campaña contra el racismo llevada a cabo por algunos jugadores de la liga española de fútbol a raíz de los incidentes producidos en el partido Villarreal-FC Barcelona del pasado domingo 27 de abril. Este hecho ha sido tema de conversación y, cómo no, también es actualidad en la prensa escrita. Aquí tenéis un artículo cortesía de http://www.thelocal.es/ por si alguno se siente lo suficientemente valiente como para leérselo en inglés y buscar los sinónimos en el texto. 

Are you up for the challenge?

***

Spain goes bananas for anti-racism campaign

FC Barcelona player Dani Alves decided to eat a banana thrown at him during Sunday's game against Villareal, a quick-witted reaction which is quickly turning into a worldwide anti-racism campaign with the help of his teammate Neymar.
 

The Brazilian full-back picked up the banana as he prepared to take a corner (see the video here) in his side’s match at Villareal on Sunday, and rather than take offense to the racist jibe, he gobbled up the fruit in one bite.
"I have been in Spain 11 years and it has been the same for 11 years,” Alves said after his team’s 3-2 comeback.
“You have to laugh at these backward people."
"We are not going to change it, so you have to take it almost as a joke and laugh at them."

Support for Alves’ witty reaction immediately starting appearing on Twitter and Facebook from all corners of the world.
"Utterly brilliant reaction from Alves. Treat the racist berk with complete disdain!," tweeted former England international Gary Lineker, a former player of FC Barcelona.

Brazilian teammate Neymar is now leading the way in a support campaign for Alves after he posted a picture on Instagram of himself with his two-year-old son eating a banana. “We are all monkeys, we are all the same. Say no to Racism!!” reads the photo caption.

Source: Instagram

Spanish TV newsreaders and presenters have joined the campaign and bitten in to the fruit on camera as a way of symbolizing their admiration for Alves’ nonchalant approach. The breakfast team of national broadcaster TVE support the campaign.

Even Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has gotten in on the act, sharing a banana with Cesare Prandelli, coach of the national football team on Monday.

Photo: Screenshot: Vista Agenzia Televisiva Nazionale/YouTube

But renowned football journalist John Carlin — who writes about Spain's football league in both English and Spanish — was doubtful about the success of the 'banana' campaign.
"Pigs will fly before the Spanish Government investigates racism in football," he wrote in an editorial published on Monday. The country is still "in the Stone Age" on the issue, he added.

Villarreal have however given a lifelong ban to the season ticket holder who threw the banana after being identified "with the help of security personnel and fans" present at the stadium, the club said in a press release on Monday.

Alex Dunham (alex.dunham@thelocal.com) 

Published: 28 Apr 2014

***

Find the synonyms for the following words or expressions:

1. clever (paragraph 1)

2. feel emotional pain (paragraph 2) 

3. recovery (paragraph 2)

4. retrograde (paragraph 2)

5. absolutely (paragraph 3)

6. earlier (paragraph 3)

7. defense (paragraph 4)

8. easygoing (paragraph 5)

9. insecure (paragraph 7)

10. restriction of access (paragraph 8)

KEY

1. quick-witted

2. take offence

3. comeback

4. backward

5. utterly

6. former

7. support

8. nonchalant

9. doubtful

10. ban