Euro 2012: UEFA probing Balotelli racism claims
UEFA on Tuesday said that it was investigating claims Italy striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused during the country's Euro 2012 Group C match against European champions Spain.
- Agence France-Presse
- Updated: June 12, 2012 10:41 PM IST
UEFA on Tuesday said that it was investigating claims Italy striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused during the country's Euro 2012 Group C match against European champions Spain.
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"Following the provision of new independent information today (Tuesday) regarding the two cases of alleged racist chanting in the Spain-Italy and Russia-Czech Republic matches, UEFA is now conducting further investigations," it said in a statement.
"There are, however, no disciplinary proceedings open at this moment in time."
European football's governing body has already said it was investigating claims from a racism monitoring group that the Czech Republic's Theodor Gebre Selassie was targetted by Russian fans during their opening Group A match on Friday.
But Italy coach Cesare Prandelli on Monday rejected outright claims in a British newspaper that Spanish fans taunted Manchester City player Balotelli with monkey noises during the 1-1 draw in Gdansk, northern Poland.
"That's absolutely untrue," the Azzurri coach said at a news conference on Monday.
Balotelli, 21, has said that he would walk off the pitch if he were racially abused by fans.