A banana gesture by striker Andrei Deniskin towards an opponent shook the ice hockey scene.

In Ukraine, sport took a back seat on Sunday evening. In the ice hockey league game between HC Kremenchuk and Donbass Donetsk (3: 2) there was a serious racist insult after an argument on the ice.

Striker Andrei Deniskin showed his dark-skinned opponent Jalen Smereck, an American, a banana gesture and was excluded. As the Ukrainian league has now announced, proceedings will be initiated against Deniskin.

A disgusting gesture in the UHL was made towards American Jalen Smereck… This is embarrassing and pathetic for hockey. @IIHFHockey needs to step up here. pic.twitter.com/cSqxBKVC4k

– World Hockey Report (@worldhockeyrpt) September 26, 2021

Deniskin tried to apologize via Instagram. The gesture arose out of emotion and he respected all people, regardless of their race or nationality.