FC Zurich condemn fans after banana is thrown at Basel winger Aldo Kalulu during Swiss league match

The 22-year-old was also pelted with cigarette lighters as he went to take a corner in the ninth minute of the game

Swiss club FC Zurich have condemned fans who threw a banana at rival player Aldo Kalulu when he went to take a corner during their league match at FC Basel on Sunday.

Zurich admitted the banana came from the part of the St Jakob Park stadium occupied by their supporters.

The incident occurred only a week after a Tottenham fan threw a banana skin at Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang during the north London derby, and on the same weekend that a Chelsea supporter was caught on camera allegedly directing a racial slur at Manchester City star Raheem Sterling.

"In the early stages of [the match] against Basel, a banana was thrown out of FCZ's fan zone towards FCB player Aldo Kalulu when he went to take a corner," the club said in a statement.

"The club strongly condemns this racist behaviour and does not tolerate it in any way. There is no room for xenophobia and discrimination in football.

"FCZ has always been committed to diversity and welcomes all people, regardless of their background or religion."

Kalulu, a Frenchman of Rwandan descent, was also pelted with cigarette lighters when he went to take the corner in the ninth minute of Basel's 2-0 win, media reports said. The 22-year-old joined Basel in June from Olympique Lyonnais.

Neither the Swiss Football League, Basel nor Kalulu have commented on the incident.