Former Italian soccer striker Mario Balotelli has sharply criticized Lazio supporters after renewed racist insults against himself. "Shame on you," the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram in the direction of the Lazio fans who had insulted the attacker in the Serie A game at Balotelli's club Brescia Calcio (1: 2).
The striker had warned the referee of the insults from the guest block after half an hour on Sunday, the game has since been interrupted. Previously, the attacker had shot the Northern Italians in the lead, Lazio turned the game through a double pack of ex-Dortmund player Ciro Immobile (42nd minute / penalty, 90th + 1).
Lazio condemned the incidents; in a press release, the club distanced itself from the "discriminatory behavior of an extremely small minority of the Tifosi" and underlined its will to "take legal action against those who" cause serious harm to their own club ". However, racist failures by Lazio fans are by no means new - and press releases by the club based on this pattern are also known.
Balotelli has been the victim of racist tirades several times in his career, most recently in November at Hellas Verona. Back then, monkey sounds could be heard repeatedly from the stands when Balotelli was on the ball. He then apparently wanted to break off the game and left the field. The game was interrupted for minutes. His teammates and also the opponents talked to the former international, who eventually continued to play.
