French league views fans’ racial abuse of Mario Balotelli during Bastia-Nice match

The French league says it has viewed TV footage of some Bastia fans racially abusing Mario Balotelli during Friday night’s match, amid complaints from the Nice striker that the league did not act quickly enough. This followed on from a previous statement earlier Saturday, when the French league (LFP) said it would open an investigation after Balotelli had spoken out against Bastia fans he said made monkey noises at him. On Saturday night, the LFP said it had seen images of the abuse via television broadcaster BeIN Sports, “showing some Bastia supporters making racist insults toward Mario Balotelli.” LFP said it “condemns with the strongest firmness those who took part in these actions, who have no place inside a football stadium.” In a brief statement earlier Saturday, LFP said it “deplored all of the incidents” that happened on Friday. Before the match, Nice’s team bus had been pelted by stones as it arrived at the stadium. The LFP’s disciplinary committee will look into the issues further when it convenes on Thursday, and once it has received more information from officials and both clubs. Prior to the LFP’s second statement being released, Bastia had responded to Balotelli’s allegations by saying it was not aware of any such abuse taking place. “Having not been informed at any stage, whether from the officials, the delegates, or any member of Nice about an incident of this type, it is with astonishment that our club discovered these accusations,” Bastia said in a statement, adding that the club has “always been attached to the fundamental values of respect.” Super Mario – Balotelli mobbed by AC Milan teammates after scoring his first goal in seven months Bastia, however, added that it remains at the LFP’s disposal “so that all light is shed” on “this type of behaviour, which is by nature stupid and unacceptable.” Early on Saturday, Balotelli wrote a message on his Instagram and Twitter pages, describing the abuse he heard during the 1-1 draw at the 20,000-capacity Armand Cesari stadium in Corsica and complaining that the French league had not acted swiftly enough. “Is it normal that Bastia supporters make monkey noise (and) ‘uh’ ‘uh’ for the whole game and no one of the ‘commissions discipline’ say nothing?” Balotelli wrote, referencing the French league’s disciplinary committee. “So is racism legal in France? Or only in Bastia? Football is an amazing sport. Those people like Bastia supporters make it horrible!” Yesterday the result against Bastia was right.. we will work more and try to get our objective.. the referee was good too but I have a question for French people.. Is it normal that Bastia supporters make monkey noise end "uh uh" for the whole game and no one of the "commissions discipline " say nothing? So is racism LEGAL in France? Or only in Bastia ? Football is an amazing sport .. those people like Bastia supporters make it horrible ! VERGOGNA DAVVERO. UNE VRAIE HONTE . A photo posted by Mario Balotelli (@mb459) on Jan 21, 2017 at 2:14am PST Balotelli, 26, the son of Ghanaian immigrants to Italy, concluded his post by writing in French that what happened was “une vrai honte,” or a total disgrace. Nice’s official Twitter account shared Balotelli’s message. On its website, the French Riviera club threw its support behind Balotelli. “Nice, which already had stones thrown at its bus before the game, is outraged by what happened to its players on Friday night, and in particular to Mario Balotelli,” a statement read. Mario Balotelli leads band of English Premier League misfits to promised land of Serie A Balotelli joined from Liverpool on a free transfer in August and has scored eight league goals in 10 games to help Nice challenge for the title. He did not say in his message whether or not he had informed referee Clement Turpin, who had the authority to stop the game, of the crowd’s actions. Commentators from broadcaster Canal Plus, which covered the game, made no mention of any racist abuse during the match. In May 2013, when playing for Italian side AC Milan, Balotelli was subject to racist abuse from visiting Roma fans, causing the Serie A game to be briefly halted by the referee during the second half after warnings to stop the abuse were made throughout the stadium. Massimiliano Allegri, Milan’s coach at the time, made stinging comments against those who had racially abused Balotelli. Bastia was docked two points by the LFP in the 2007-08 season after its fans racially abused Burkina Faso forward Boubacar Kebe by holding up a banner during a second-division home game against Libourne. The kickoff was delayed by a few minutes until the banner aimed at Kebe was removed.

French league views fans’ racial abuse of Mario Balotelli during Bastia-Nice match

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Governing body views TV footage of fans racially abusing Italian during Friday night’s match

Governing body views TV footage of fans racially abusing Italian during Friday night’s match