Mario Balotelli is AC Milan’s tame ‘crazy nigger’
MARIO Balotelli is black. Many Italians have noticed. When Super Mario scored for Italy against Germany at Euro 2012, Tuttosport produced the pun: “Li abbiamo fatti neri.” Literally that translates to “we made them all black”. It’s more akin to “we wiped the floor with them”. But the use of the word “neri” was not accidental.
Elisabetta Povoledo wrote about his time in Italy before joining Manchester City:
While he was still playing in Italy, Mr. Balotelli, like other black athletes who play here, was subject to racist episodes. When newspapers reported that he had revealed in June after a visit to Auschwitz that one of his adoptive parents was of Jewish heritage, an Italian extreme right group posted unprintable slurs on its Web site.
“This past year there were 59 racial incidents during the Italian soccer championship, almost all of them linked to color,’’ said Mauro Valeri, a sociologist and expert in racism in sport. Fines of more than €400,000 were issued, he said. ‘‘Even though measures have been implemented to halt the violence, the fact racism persists should make you think.’’
Some people think. Some people just talk. AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, a man who has praised Mussolini, responded to abuse hurled at his club;s black footballer on January 4:
“I called Kevin-Prince Boateng a little while ago and I congratulated him for his reaction against the disgraceful episode of racism that took place in the stadium of Pro Patria in Busto Arsizio. I am very happy by Milan’s reaction and be assured that in all games where we experience episodes of this kind, Milan will leave the field”
AC Milan then signed Balotelli. And this is Silvio’s brother Paulo said on February 6. He’s AC Milan’s Vice President:
“Okay, we are all off to see the family’s little nigger. He’s a crazy head. All the young ladies are invited as well – you can even have a chance to meet the president.”
Nice.
Posted: 7th, February 2013 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
