Balotelli: Victim of abuse?

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City to lodge race complaint

Manchester City will lodge an official complaint with UEFA after Mario Balotelli allegedly fell victim to racist chants from the crowd in Thursday’s Europa League win at Porto.

The striker, along with team-mate Yaya Toure, were allegedly the focus of racist abuse from the home fans during the Europa League last-32 encounter at the Estadio Dragao.

City manager Roberto Mancini claimed after the match he had not heard the alleged chants, but confirmed Balotelli had approached club officials over the incident and they would be lodging an official complaint.

Speaking to the media after the match Toure said: “That’s why we all like the Premier League, because it never happens there.

“Maybe in foreign countries they don’t expect black players.

“I think in future it will be okay, they will change their minds and the game will become more open.

“Football is football and the fans come to enjoy the game, and we don’t want things like this to happen.

“Mario is now able to control things like this and that is very important for the club.”

City eventually went on to overturn a 1-0 deficit in a 2-1 victory on the night to leave Mancini’s men with one foot in the last-16, given their two away-goals heading into the second-leg at the Etihad Stadium.