Levante midfielder Papakouly Diop has accused a section of Atletico Madrid supporters of taunting him with "monkey chants" during his team's 2-0 victory today.

The visiting fans appeared to perform monkey gestures at the nearby Senegal international, who reacted to the incident by dancing and sparked a brief melee between the opposition players.

"I was going to take a corner and some of the Atletico fans started making monkey chants," Diop told reporters. "To defuse the situation I started dancing but I didn't insult anyone.

"I have nothing against the Atletico fans because it was only a section who chanted.

"It's a lack of respect you get at all stadiums. It's a provocation. I don't know if you can call it racism but these monkey chants have to stop."

The incident comes one week after Barcelona defender Dani Alves ate a banana that was flung at him during the 3-2 win over Villarreal last Sunday, with a host of fellow professionals and celebrities supporting the Brazilian for his actions.