Brescia striker, Mario Balotelli has come out to say that those who deny he was racially abused during Sunday’s Serie A match at Hellas Verona are not “real men”.
Mario kicked the ball angrily towards Verona fans early in the second half after hearing racist abuses, before threatening to exit the field.
The ref had to stop the game and then followed protocol by reading a statement out to the crowd in an attempt to calm the atmosphere.
Speaking after the game, however, Verona’s head coach, Ivan Juric and president Maurizio Setti said they did not hear any racist abuse directed at Balotelli. Juric said, “I’m not afraid to say it: today, there was nothing, no racist booing.”
President Maurizio also said, “I confirm that we have heard nothing,”
“Verona fans are passionate but they’re not racists.
“When there are cases of racism we are the first to condemn them but it is wrong to generalise, speaking of racist chants and fans. Maybe two or three people among 20,000 fans might have said something.
“Those two or three people, if there are, we are ready to find them and punish them because I strongly condemn any such incident. I met Balotelli and I apologised if someone said something to him.”
Reacting, Balotelli wrote on Instagram, “Thanks to all the colleagues on and off the field for the solidarity expressed toward me and all of the messages received from fans. A heartfelt thanks. You’ve shown yourself to be real men, not like those who deny the evidence.”
“To the ‘people’ in this end who made the monkey noises: shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you in front of your children, wives, parents, relatives, friends and acquaintances…shame.”
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