Mario Balotelli: Brescia fans criticize player after he was racially abused

CNN — Fans of Brescia have criticized Mario Balotelli after the Italian international was racially abused during last Sunday’s match against Hellas Verona. then banned 03:48 - Source: CNN READ: Balotelli suffers racist abuse as incidents continue in Serie A READ: Verona handed partial stadium ban over racist abuse towards Mario Balotelli Brescia is second from bottom in Serie A and in a relegation fight to stay in Italian football’s top flight. The club’s coach Eugenio Corini was sacked after the Verona defeat and was replaced by Fabio Grosso “If he was not psychologically ready to face supporters like those in Verona and – above all – a delicate game as that of last Sunday, in which a city played to stay in Serie A and manager – who is among the most beloved of all – was playing his last chance, he had to say it aloud and give way to someone less nervous than himself; nobody would have been p****d off, on the contrary,” added the Brescia 1911-Ex Curva Nord statement. Video Ad Feedback Tammy Abraham: My mum 'was in tears' from racist abuse 04:52 - Source: CNN READ: Joao Mario calls for stronger racist abuse punishments READ: Italian youth football team scales back plans to play in blackface The same day, Verona confirmed that it had banned the head of the club’s Ultras Supporters Group, Luca Castellini, from all its matches until June 30, 2030 for “considerations and expressions utterly contrary to the ethical principles and values of this club.” In an interview with Radio Cafe on Monday, Castellini said that Verona fans were merely being “irreverent” and that Balotelli could never be considered completely Italian. Yet Brescia 1911-Ex Curva Nord also downplayed the incident as merely “provocative comments.” Video Ad Feedback Fighting racism in football: The referees' perspective 05:18 - Source: CNN “It was not the first time Balotelli played in Verona and having seen his past in the ranks of Inter and Milan, he knew well the Verona fans and the value of a derby game,” the statement read.