Mario Balotelli lashed out on Sunday after again being targeted by racist insults, this time from Lazio fans after he scored for Brescia in a 2-1 Serie A defeat, telling his tormentors: “Shame on you”.
“A defeat that hurts but we will come back stronger and we are on the right track,” the 29-year-old wrote on Instagram.
“Lazio fans that were today at the stadium SHAME ON YOU! #saynotoracism.”
Balotelli struck the first goal after 18 minutes at Brescia’s Stadio Mario Rigamonti before title-chasers Lazio hit back with a Ciro Immobile double.
But the game was overshadowed by insulting chants aimed at Italy international Balotelli.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool player was targeted every time he got the ball.
“It’s already the second time,” Balotelli was heard telling referee Gianluca Manganiello after half an hour, with the latter replying: “Now I’ll take care of it”.
Lazio coach Simone Inzaghi gestured wildly in front of the visiting fans to stop the chanting, as an announcement was read over the stadium speakers reminding spectators that play would be suspended and their club penalised if they continued.
Brescia fans tried to drown out the insults with whistles and cheering which Balotelli applauded.
In November, Balotelli was the target of monkey chants at Verona.
Brescia president Massimo Cellino also came under fire after describing Balotelli’s difficult situation at the promoted Serie A club as “black”.
Italian stadiums are the scene of recurrent racist incidents, including monkey chants, and this season Inter Milan’s Romelu Lukaku, AC Milan’s Franck Kessie and Fiorentina’s Dalbert have all been victims.
An anti-racism campaign launched by Serie A featuring three monkeys last month drew widespread criticism and ridicule.
Balotelli picked up where he left off before the winter break pulling clear of Luiz Felipe to volley in his first home goal for Brescia and first of the decade.
He also scored the first goal of the previous decade in January 2010 with Inter Milan.
Lazio stretch winning run
However, Lazio still stretched their winning streak to nine consecutive league games to consolidate third place, three points behind leaders Inter Milan and Juventus who play on Monday.
Immobile struck the winner after 91 minutes, having also converted from the penalty spot before the break.
Relegation-threatened Brescia were reduced to 10 men when Andrea Cistana was sent off for a second yellow card after bringing down Felipe Caicedo after 39 minutes.
Serie A top scorer Immobile pulled Lazio back on level terms from the penalty spot three minutes later.
Immobile brought his league tally to 19 goals connecting with a Caicedo cross to fire in the injury time winner.
Inzaghi, meanwhile, equals Sven Goran Eriksson’s record of nine consecutive league wins set in the 1998-99 season.
The Swedish coach led Lazio to their last Serie A title in 2000.
“People expect more from us with all these wins and two trophies,” said Inzaghi, whose side beat Juventus to lift the Italian SuperCup trophy last month after winning the Italian Cup in May.
“We won a very important game. We’ll try to continue like this. We absolutely want to hit the Champions League.”
City rivals Roma, now four points behind in fourth, host Torino later on Sunday.
Verona move up to ninth with Giampaolo Pazzini and Mariusz Stepinski scoring in either half in a 2-0 win over ten-man SPAL, who drop to bottom place after their 12th defeat this season.
New Genoa coach Davide Nicola got off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory over Sassuolo, the port side’s first since October.
Domenico Criscito got off the mark from the spot after a Pedro Obiang foul, with the Ecudaorian making amends minutes later by beating goalkeeper Mattia Perin, playing his first game back in Genoa from Juventus.
Goran Pandev headed in the winner four minutes from time to lift Genoa off the bottom.
Inter Milan recommence the title battle with Juventus on Monday, with both sides level on 42 points after 17 games.
Antonio Conte’s side travel to Napoli with Juventus at home against Cagliari.
