Not-so-mad Mario: Balotelli praised for keeping his cool after claims Inter fans racially abused him in Milan derby

25 Feb 2013 12:46

"He's been very good not to react to any provocation," says AC Milan boss Allegri

Mario Balotelli: Not everyone's favourite player

Claudio Villa

Mario Balotelli was "very good" not to react to reported racial taunts in the Milan derby yesterday, according to his manager Massimiliano Allegri.
The AC Milan striker played against his former side Internazionale at the San Siro on Sunday. It was the first time he had faced his old club, and he missed a series of chances in the first half which could have given his new club a 3-0 lead.
The match finished 1-1, with Ezequiel Schelotto's second-half goal earning the Nerazzurri a 1-1 draw after Stephan El Shaarawy opened the scoring before the break.

 Italian newspaper La Gazzetta dello Sport reported that inflatable bananas were waved at Balotelli by several Inter supporters during the match and, in the second half, Balotelli was seen to raise his finger to his lips in an apparent bid to silence his detractors.
The Press Association now claims Serie A chiefs will meet on Tuesday to consider imposing sanctions on Inter after the reports of abuse directed at the Italy striker.
A Lega Serie A spokeswoman told Press Association Sport that 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 tomorrow afternoon.

Calm down! Calm down! Zanetti reasons with Mario

Claudio Villa

According to PA, if fans are adjudged to have directed discriminatory or racist language at Balotelli then Inter face a fine of at least 15,000 euros (£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's manager Massimiliano Allegri insisted his striker did well to keep his cool.
"We shouldn't forget that he's 22-years-old and tonight he played against Inter Milan, the team where he started. Therefore it was normal he would feel the pressure of the match.
"He's been very good not to react to any provocation. He put in a good performance and I'm very happy."           
Inter president Massimo Moratti apologised afterwards while expressing his hope there would be no repeat in the derby.
Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola later revealed his client had been carrying a high fever and did well to complete the 90 minutes, regardless of any ill treatment from the Inter fans.

Don't do it Mario! Javier Zanetti tries to keep Balotelli calm

Claudio Villa

Quoted on Gazzetta.it, he told radio station GrParlamento: "It was an important game but he treated it like any other. He had a temperature of 38 degrees but still played well, especially in the first half.
"He didn't score but everything else went well. He was really relaxed and calm.
"Because of the fever he was perhaps lacking about two per cent of his usual freshness and Handanovic pulled off two or three miracle saves against him.
"What mark would I give him out of 10? If he'd scored then 10 but for what I saw and for how he prepared for the game, with the level of concentration he maintained - for me it was a nine."
Balotelli signed for Milan from Manchester City in January. After he arrived the club's vice-president Paolo Berlusconi described him as "negretto di famiglia" - translated as "the family's little n****". ----------------- Mirror Football