The racist chants directed at Brescia striker, Mario Balotelli by Hellas Verona fans does not mean the entire city is racist, according to Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) president, Damiano Tommasi.
Balotelli was recently abused to the point of him threatening to leave the pith before the harsh atmosphere was controlled by the ref.
Damiano is not happy with the racism issue in Italian football but has insisted that the city of Verona cannot be blamed for the actions of some fans at its club.
His words, “I hear too much [racism], and even if there are even just two people [shouting racist abuse], it is two too many,”
“Few people know its patron saint Zeno was a black bishop and that the Comboni Missionaries active in Africa were born here. The city is not racist, but the behaviour [of Verona’s ultras] is, yes.”
Meanwhile, Hellas Verona coach, Ivan Juric recently accused Balotelli of making false abuse claims insisting that it was Ballo’s problem, not theirs.
His words, “Today there was nothing, no racist abuse,”
“There was whistling and some goading against a great player. There was nothing.
“I don’t know why he reacted like that. Let’s not put it that way, it’s a lie.
“We don’t talk bullsh*t, if it had happened I would say so, and even if it was our own fans it would make me sick.
“But not today. When he scored the goal, there was a lot of goading. It was his problem, not ours.”
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