2014 World Cup: Mario Balotelli racially abused during Italy training session

Published on: 22 May 2014
2014 World Cup: Mario Balotelli racially abused during Italy training session
Italy fans showed Mario Balotelli why he should have played for Ghana

Italy fans showed Mario Balotelli why he should have played for Ghana instead of the European country by racially abusing him in their training camp ahead of the World Cup.

Police had to intervene after Balotelli, who was born to Ghanaian parents, was subjected to racist chants at Italy’s World Cup training base in Florence yesterday.

Youths outside the Coverciano complex are thought to have been responsible for the chants, and Balotelli appeared visibly disturbed.

The training session was open to the media and Balotelli could be heard saying as he ran by reporters, “Only in Rome and Florence are they that stupid”.

While most of the fans cheered for Balotelli, police approached the area where the chants came from and they quickly ended.

Balotelli was born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and brought up by an Italian foster family. He has faced racist chants throughout his professional career.

Italian Football Federation president Giancarlo Abete has condemned racist chants directed at Mario Balotelli as "unacceptable behaviour".

"This is unacceptable behaviour," said Abete. "This should not happen - we will take this episode into account."

Local police intervened to allow Italy's training session to continue.

It is not the first time Balotelli, who joined AC Milan from Manchester City for £19m in 2013, has been the victim of racism since his return to Italy.

He had previously been racially abused by a section of Roma fans during a Serie A game against them.

But Abete, speaking to Gazzetta dello Sport, insisted: "The important thing is that this is only a minority and they have no regard for civil coexistence."

Italy team-mate Ciro Immobile added: "In 2014 we shouldn't have to deal with racism. We have to improve as a nation.

"Fortunately, Mario was very calm. We know how serious this is but we don't want to further discuss this within the group."

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