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Mario Balotelli Will Leave Euro 2012 if Racially Abused
May 30, 2012 Nicola  |
Manchester City and Italy striker Mario Balotelli has threatened to walk off the pitch if racially abused at Euro 2012.
Balotelli, 21, told the press: “If [racism] does happen I would leave the pitch and go home.”
The striker’s comments come after the BBC Panorama documentary which visited Euro 2012 host nations Poland and Ukraine. The programme showed strong cases of racism and anti-Semitism taking place at football grounds from a selection of hardcore fans.
The Manchester City player went on to add: “If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to prison because I will kill him. Racism is unacceptable to me, I cannot bear it. We are in 2012, it can’t happen.”
Balotelli is no stranger to racism after enduring several incidents of racist abuse while playing in Italy for Inter Milan.
Someone else who isn’t a stranger to racist abuse is former England captain Sol Campbell. The former Arsenal defender featured in the Panorama documentary and gave fans thinking of travelling some simple advice: “Stay home, watch it on TV. Don’t even risk it… because you could end up coming back in a coffin.”
Despite the Panorama footage Uefa still gave assurances that its zero tolerance policy regarding racism would be in full effect during the tournament. In a statement they said: “Uefa’s ‘zero tolerance’ approach to racism is still valid both on and off the pitch and ultimately the referee has the power to stop or abandon a match should racist incidents occur.”
Despite assurances from the governing body England and Arsenal squad member Theo Walcott revealed his family will not be travelling for fear of racist abuse.
By Gareth Lovell
[Image courtesy of Muhammad Rafizeldi]
