Inter striker Mario Balotelli fined for mocking fans after racial taunts
By APThursday, January 7, 2010
Inter’s Balotelli fined for mocking fans
MILAN — Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli was fined $10,000 Thursday by the Italian league for mocking fans after racial taunts.
Balotelli, the son of Ghanian immigrants, ironically applauded Chievo Verona supporters when he was substituted during Wednesday’s game.
Balotelli scored the lone goal in Inter’s 1-0 victory. In a post-match TV interview, Balotelli said every time he comes to Verona “the fans are more and more sickening.”
Inter was fined $21,500 for its fans’ racial abuse toward a Chievo player and exploding fireworks. Chievo was not fined.
On Thursday, Balotelli posted a statement on his Web site.
“I won’t ask to be excused by those that insulted me, but only for the part of the public that didn’t have anything to do with it and that I offended expressing myself poorly,” Balotelli said, adding that he lost his calm because of the “boos.”
“I’m tired of hearing slogans and racist boos even when I behave well on the field,” Balotelli wrote. “And it doesn’t happen only to me.
“In Verona I was also ashamed by my own fans when I heard them boo Chievo’s Luciano,” Balotelli added, referring to the Brazilian midfielder. “It really upset me. It’s shameful and it must stop.”
