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Monday, February 11, 2013
Inter fans chant racist abuse of Balotelli

ESPN staff

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has expressed his disappointment after a section of his club's fans chanted racist slogans about Mario Balotelli during their weekend win over Chievo.

A section of the San Siro crowd chanted about Balotelli, who arrived at rivals AC Milan from Manchester City last month, as Inter triumphed 3-1.

Inter's president was swiftly made aware of what had happened and said he hoped there would be no repeat of the abuse during the Milan derby on February 24.

"I was told about it because I couldn't make out clearly what they were saying. I'm very sorry about that,'' Moratti told the club's official website.

"I'm very sorry, and I really hope it doesn't happen during the derby.''

Last week, film emerged of AC Milan vice-president Paolo Berlusconi - the younger brother of the club's owner Silvio - describing Balotelli as "negretto della famiglia" while speaking at a political event.

Berlusconi was later photographed making up with Balotelli and said: "I spoke to Balotelli, though in reality there was no need seeing as he is an intelligent lad. He had already understood my phrase was an affectionate one that was turned into a stupid media circus."

Information from the Press Association was used in this report




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