Football
Eren Sarigul, ESPN.com writer 6y

Fenerbahce's Fernandao banned, fined for pelvic thrust celebration

Fenerbahce striker Fernandao was banned for two games and fined 60,000 Turkish lira (€13,000) after celebrating a goal against Besiktas in the Istanbul derby on Sunday by thrusting his pelvis toward the home supporters.

Fernandao, who scored in the eighth minute of Besiktas' 3-1 victory in the Turkish Super Lig, intended the celebration to mimic that of Bahia's Vinicius during a Brazilian league game against rivals Vitoria last month.

Vinicus scored a penalty in the 50th minute and then celebrated by thrusting towards Vitoria supporters, sparking a mass brawl between both sides that resulted in eight players being sent off.

A former Bahia player, Fernandao later insulted Vitoria centre-back Kanu via social media, calling him a "clown" and a "coward" for his role in the altercation.

Tensions between Besiktas and Fenerbahce were already running high after Robin van Persie's antics last season.

Van Persie wagged his tongue at the Besiktas fans during the Turkish Cup in a manner that was interpreted by some as being sexually suggestive.

Dusko Tosic was sent off in the same match for squaring up to Van Persie, who appeared to throw himself to the ground.

The Turkish football disciplinary committee ruled by a four-to-three majority that Fernandao deserve to be punished for his celebration, but the ban was later reduced to one game as "an incident that violates sportsmanship."

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