Italian Football Club side, Hellas Verona has banned the head of their Ultras fan group, Luca Castellini for 11-years, for his alleged racist comment against Mario Balotelli, after the ugly incident in the game between Verona and Brescia at the weekend. They were also issued a partial stadium ban by the FA for one game following the racist abuse.
The action by some section of the Hellas Verona fans, led to Brescia’s striker Balotelli kicking the ball into the crowd and threatened to walk off the pitch after being abused during Sunday’s 2-1 defeat.
On Tuesday, Serie A’s disciplinary commission ordered the closure of the Poltrone Est stand as punishment.
Luca Castellini had said the Italian striker, Mario Balotelli, can “never be completely Italian”.
Verona said Castellini’s comments were “seriously” against the “ethical principles and values of our club”.
On Monday, Italy international Balotelli responded to Castellini by saying his comments had “nothing to do with football”.
“You are getting into social and historical situations that are bigger than you, you small-minded people,” he said.
Balotelli, who has played 36 times for Italy and helped them reach the final of the 2012 European Championships, added: “Wake up you imbeciles, you are shambolic.
“When Mario scored a goal for Italy, and – I guarantee you – I will do so again, you are fine with that, aren’t you?”
Meanwhile, a motion was put forward to the Verona city council by councillor Andrea Bacciga calling for any players who “defame” the city to “face justice”.
He claimed “no-one” at the stadium on Sunday heard the racist abuse aimed at Balotelli.