Italian stiker Mario Balottli has hit out at Lazio fans who subjected him racial abuse in Brescia's Serie A Sunday defeat. The 29-year-old forward was singled out for abuse throughout the match and this was accompanied by other offensive chants against him and his family. At the time of the incident, Brescia led the proceeding by a goal to nil thanks to Balotelli's first strike of the new year.
However, the lead was soon relinquished with the hosts losing Andre Cistana through a red card while conceding a Ciro Immobile brace. With Balotelli bringing the activities of the visiting fans to light, the Serie A football match was then halted for a few minutes. Concurrently, Lazio head coach Simone Inzaghi cast a wild figure on the touchline while he signaled the visiting fans to desist from abusing the striker.
An announcement was also made in the stadium advising fans against singing discriminatory songs and were threatened that would be suspended if the songs were sang. Following the end of the encounter, Balotelli took to social media to criticise Lazio. "Is a loss that hurt but we will come back stronger and we are on the right way!", he remarked as he posted a video of his goal. "Lazio fans that were today at the stadium SHAME ON YOU! #saynotoracism"
Prior to the latest incident, Balotelli was subjected to racial abuse in a league game against Verona in November. There, the Italian attacker threatened to boycott any game that will give fans the platform to racially abusive.
