MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian soccer club has expressed its disappointment over an “idiotic” banana throwing incident involving its Congolese-born defender.

Chris Samba had a banana thrown at him from the stands after his club, Anzhi Makhachkala, lost to Lokomotiv in Moscow late Sunday. Samba tossed the banana back.

Anzhi called on Lokomotiv security services Monday to identify and punish the individual who threw the banana. Samba said in a statement that the incident was “an act of a stupid person.”

Racism is common among some Russian fans, which include ultranationalists and neo-Nazis.

Last year, Anzhi’s Roberto Carlos had bananas thrown at him twice. In 2010, Lokomotiv Moscow fans unfurled a banner showing a banana.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press