25 February 2013

Balotelli racially abused by Inter fans in Milan derby as plastic bananas are waved at San Siro amid sick taunts.


Mario Balotelli was subjected to racial taunts by Inter Milan fans as he took on his former club on Sunday night.
An eyewitness, who did not want to be identified for fear of repercussions from Inter ultras, showed Sportsmail a video in which some Inter fans waved inflatable bananas and whistled at the AC Milan striker during the derby clash. 
Despite the abuse Balotelli kept his composure and signalled for them to be quiet by putting a finger to his mouth. 

'Balotelli did very well not to react to the provocations, I'm just sorry he wasn't able to score,' said Milan manager Massimiliano Allegri.

'He had a great first half. Let's not forget that he's 22 years old and he was playing against his former squad. It's to be expected that he felt pressure for this match.'


On two occasions the former Manchester City striker miscontrolled or mishit the ball when well placed in front of goal. The San Siro had more Inter fans than Milan supporters - the former side were at home - and they mocked their former striker.
He was whistled at and there were some reports of Inter fans waving inflatable bananas at him.
Other players were aware. At one point, the Inter captain Javier Zanetti, who played with the striker for the Nerazzurri, grabbed the distracted striker's arm, seemingly to be telling him to ignore it.
Zanetti shook a finger at the Inter supporters, as if instructing Balotelli not to look at their inflatable bananas - which the eyewitness confirmed numbered over 100 - or take their hateful chants to heart.

During his time in the Premier League, Balotelli got in to various scrapes and misdemeanours. Some more serious than others. He was often told he needed to grow up. On Sunday night, he dealt with significant abuse maturely.
In the video seen by Sportsmail, the stewards at the San Siro do nothing. They do nothing about it throughout the match.

'Balotelli, son of a b****' was being chanted for the duration of the game, by the majority of Inter fans.

The source confirmed monkey chants could be heard loudly at times inside the stadium. Only small pockets of Inter fans were culpable, and they were not continuous. But still they existed.

Serie A officials will meet on Tuesday to consider sanctioning Inter Milan after fans.

A spokeswoman told Press Association Sport the disciplinary council would rule on the events of the match at the San Siro among others from the weekend's fixture list in a meeting held in Milan.

If fans are adjudged to have directed discriminatory or racist language at Balotelli then Inter face a fine of at least £12,300. The club were fined that amount when Inter fans chanted racist songs about the striker during a recent league game against Chievo.
Balotelli played for Inter between 2006 and 2010 before moving to Manchester City.
He only had himself to blame as his side were pegged back in the San Siro after taking the lead.

The Italian striker had several opportunities to score in the first half as Milan dominated.
Stephan El Shaarawy opened the scoring for Milan after receiving Kevin-Prince Boateng's through ball and flicking it round Samir Handanovic with the outside of his right boot.
The goalkeeper could do nothing about the 21st minute strike - but spent the rest of the half denying Balotelli and his team-mates with a string of super saves.



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