ROME – Damiano Tommasi, the president of Italy's footballers'
association (AIC), has said that howling at a black footballer is
blatant racist behaviour in reply to a Verona fan who aimed racial
abuse at Brescia striker Mario Balotelli.
"Let's not beat around the bush, if someone makes a monkey howl at a
black player because he is black, that's racism," Tommasi, a former
Roma midfielder and Italy international, told the ANSA news agency
Monday.
"I hear too many 'yes, but.' Even if it was only two people it's too
much."
Sunday's game at Verona's Marcantonio Bentegodi stadium was
interrupted for four minutes, with Balotelli threatening to walk off
after kicking the ball at fans who targeted him with monkey chants.
A prominent fan of Verona was quoted earlier Monday as saying that
Balotelli will never be fully Italian as he commented on the racial
slurs.
"Balotelli is Italian because he has Italian citizenship, but he will
never be entirely Italian," Luca Castellini reportedly said while
being interviewed by Radio Cafe as a leader of Verona fans.
Radio Cafe is a regional station based in Padua, a town about 90
kilometres east of Verona.
"We too have a negro in the squad, who scored (in Sunday's 2-1 defeat
of Brescia) and all Verona applauded him," said Castellini, adding
that he saw no problems in using the word negro and that he wondered
if the Segre commission would go after him for pronouncing it.
The commission, which was created last week in the Italian
parliament, was inspired by senator and Holocaust survivor Liliana
Segre to prevent and contrast racist and discriminatory behaviours.
Castellini's reference was to Verona forward Eddie Salcedo, who was
born in Italy to Colombian parents.
Balotelli's reply came later Monday on Instagram, where he said that
he does not intend to give up on the issue of racism.
"This, dear friends, it's not just about football. You guys are
referring to social and historical situation that are far bigger than
you, little beings," Balotelli wrote.
"You are getting crazy in your ignorance. You are ruining everything.
"But when Mario did score for Italy, and I grant you he will do it
again, you liked it, didn't you? Certain people should be banned from
society, not only from football."
Tommasi, who was born near Verona, noted that few people know that
the town's patron saint, San Zeno, was a black from north-west Africa
and that the Comboni Missionaries, a Catholic congregation active in
various African countries and also known as the Verona Fathers, were
founded in the town.
"It is not a town to be racist, but certain behaviours certainly
are," he said.
Balotelli was born in Italy to Ghanaian parents and adopted by a
family from the Brescia province.
He is back in the Serie A after three seasons in France, which
followed terms at Manchester City and Liverpool. He earlier played in
Italy with Inter Milan and AC Milan.
With 14 goals from 36 appearances, he is the best active scorer with
the Italian national squad but last played in September 2018.