Mario Balotelli said he was targeted with racist remarks while representing Emirati second-tier club Al-Ittifaq in a match against Dubai City on Wednesday.
Mario Balotelli said he was targeted with racist remarks while representing Emirati second-tier club Al-Ittifaq in a match against Dubai City on Wednesday.
The 35-year-old stated the abuse occurred during the game, which ended in a 2-0 defeat played at Hatta.
According to his account, the comments were directed at him repeatedly from the stands throughout the contest.
Following the final whistle, Balotelli addressed the situation in a post on Instagram, where he described the language used against him and stressed that racism has no place in football or society.
He said such conduct should never be treated as acceptable, excused, or overlooked, explaining that he chose to speak publicly to highlight an issue affecting many players.
The forward added that his message was intended not only to address his own experience but also to stand up for others who have faced similar treatment, ending his statement by calling for an end to such behaviour.
Neither Al-Ittifaq nor Dubai City offered immediate comment when asked about the allegations.
Balotelli, who has previously spoken out about racist incidents during his career, noted that he did not anticipate encountering the problem in the United Arab Emirates.
He concluded by expressing hope that firm action would be taken to ensure similar situations do not occur again.
