Racism in Italy Continues: Booing Their Own Player

[Macmoish]

Guardian

Mario Balotelli suffers racist abuse from Italy and Romania fans

Italy's Mario Balotelli suffered racist abuse from his own fans and those of Romania during their 1-1 draw. Photograph: Kerstin Joensson/AP

The Romania striker Ciprian Marica scored at both ends in a 1-1 draw with a disjointed Italy in Austria tonight but racist boos and banners towards Mario Balotelli marred the friendly.

The Manchester City striker, earning his second start for Italy, was abused by a section of fans every time he touched the ball in the game at Klagenfurt's HYPO Group Arena.

The Italy coach Cesare Prandelli said of the racist chants: "I feel disappointment and anger. We always hear these chants and something has to be done about it. We feel helpless. He [Balotelli] has the support of everyone."

Marica grabbed a deserved opener after 34 minutes, but deflected in the substitute Fabio Quagliarella's header following a corner eight minutes from time.

The Juventus forward Quagliarella tried to claim the goal having earlier come on for Balotelli, who was subjected to a small amount of racist booing from the crowd with the origins of the chants unclear.

However, some Italian ultra fans did unveil a banner reading "no to a multi-ethnic national team".

Prandelli handed debuts to four players, including the Argentina-born midfielder Cristian Ledesma which has also upset the ultras, but the experimental line-up meant there was little fluency or cohesion.

Brescia's former West Ham United playmaker Alessandro Diamanti was anonymous and taken off at the break on his first appearance as a replacement for Antonio Cassano, dropped after being suspended by Sampdoria for swearing at the club president.

Balotelli offered the only real spark in the first half for Italy, managing two decent efforts on goal, while the substitute Alberto Gilardino was lively in the second period.

Romania – struggling in fifth place in Euro 2012 Group D in contrast to Italy who top Euro Group C – looked composed on the ball except for being rattled by Gilardino just after the break.

www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/17/romania-italy-international-friendly-racism-fans

[Macmoish]

Guardian

Mario Balotelli sick of racist abuse with Italy national side
• Manchester City striker abused by section of Italy support
• 'A multi-ethnic Italy already exists and we can do better'

Mario Balotelli has admitted he is growing weary of hearing racist abuse when playing football, and is asking for help in the fight against racism in the Italian game.

The Italy and Manchester City striker earned his second international cap last night in a 1-1 draw with Romania but was taunted by some spectators.

The 20-year-old was the subject of abuse every time he touched the ball in the friendly played in Austria, reportedly mostly from Italy fans. He was taunted by a group of approximately 100 extreme right-wing Italian supporters who travelled to the match in Klagenfurt, the AP reported. Fans also held up a banner that read, "No to a multi-ethnic national team".

Balotelli, who is the son of Brescia-based Ghanaian immigrants, told Sky Italia today: "I was very disappointed yesterday and I didn't want to say anything. The only sure thing is that I alone can't do anything. Everyone needs to do something against racism."

He said walking off the pitch would have been an excessive reaction to "a [group] of idiots".

"These are things that have been going on for a long time," Balotelli said. "What happened yesterday was racism, but it's also stupidity on the part of just a few people. I'm certain that if I were to meet one of those guys alone he would ask for my autograph."

He added on Mediaset: "We need to change these people but it's not me that has to do it. Where I live, the people don't reason like these people. A multi-ethnic Italy already exists and we can do better."

Balotelli's agent, Mino Raiola, has asked the Italian Football Federation to intervene. "We've got to help Mario fight this, because he alone can't do it," Raiola said. "He's trying to find a way to combat these people, and sometimes he just doesn't respond or acknowledge them, but I'm sure that a kid like him suffers inside. Everyone needs to help, including the federation."

Italian police have identified 41 fans involved in the taunts, according to the ANSA news agency.

The Italy coach, Cesare Prandelli, said he was "disgusted" by the abuse, and the Italy federation president, Giancarlo Abete, said: "This is something that must be condemned. It is unacceptable behaviour."

Fans also taunted Italy midfielder Cristian Ledesma, who was born in Argentina and made his first appearance for the Azzurri.

Balotelli played down speculation linking him with a move back to Italy in January, but left the door open for a summer move. "The likelihood is that I will be at City up to June," he said. "I have a five-year contract and I can't say anything."

Speculation intensified over Balotelli's future after the 20-year-old striker was spotted on Sunday night having supper with the Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani in a restaurant in the city.

"It's true that I had supper with Galliani after the [Milan] derby," Balotelli said. "But had I eaten with [the Internazionale president Massimo] Moratti the media would have said that I was going to Inter."

Balotelli did, however, state that he and the Milan forward Zlatan Ibrahimovic would form a dream partnership. "Ibrahimovic and I would make a very strong [attacking] duo," he said.


www.guardian.co.uk/football/2010/nov/18/mario-balotelli-racist-abuse-italy