Mario Balotelli reports racist abuse during UAE league match
The 35-year-old Italian striker was targeted with racial slurs during a second-division game in the United Arab Emirates, denouncing the behavior on social media.
8 hrs ago
Italian striker Mario Balotelli reported being subjected to racist abuse during a match between Al Ittifaq and Dubai City in the UAE second division on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old player said he heard monkey chants and references to eating bananas repeatedly from the stands during the game, which was part of the UAE Cup competition. Balotelli detailed the incident on Instagram, stating he was targeted with racial insults on multiple occasions.
"Today, during a match, I was the object of racist insults several times," Balotelli wrote. "I was told repeatedly: 'Uh uh uh, go eat bananas.' There is absolutely no place for racism in football or in society. This type of behavior cannot be normalized, justified or ignored."
Balotelli, who joined Al Ittifaq about a month ago, used the platform to call for broader awareness of the issue. "I want to speak openly to raise awareness, not only for myself, but also for every player who has been a victim of this. Enough is enough," he said.
The player arrived at the UAE club following a stint at Genoa, where he made six brief appearances and scored no goals over the course of a year. His move to Al Ittifaq marked a fresh start in the second-tier competition.
Balotelli's statement emphasized that racist behavior in sports and society requires serious action and cannot be tolerated or overlooked.