Rio De Janneiro, Aug 30 (IANS): Brazilian club Gremio have banned its five fans from attending home matches after they were found to be involved in racially abusing a player.
Santos goalkeeper Aranha was racially abused by the supporters of the club during a Copa do Brasil match in the southern city of Porto Alegre Thursday.
Gremio vice-president Nestor Hein said another five fans were also banned from invading the pitch and throwing objects, Xinhua quoted Gremio vice-president Nestor Hein as telling the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper.
"There were 30,000 fans at the stadium and the 10 behaved badly have stigmatised the club," Hein said.
He said the fans had been banned indefinitely from all matches at the club's Arena do Gremio in Porto Alegre.
After the match a visibly upset Aranha gave evidence to police, whose report has been handed to public prosecutors.