Football: Balotelli apologises after alleged racist post

02 dicembre 2014

1 min di lettura

(AGI) London, Dec 2 - Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli hasapologised for his post on social media which provoked claimsof racism and anti-Semitism. The Italian player posted an imageto his Instagram account of the computer game character SuperMario which read: "Don't be racist! Be like Mario. He's anItalian plumber created by Japanese people who speaks Englishand looks like a Mexican." At the bottom of the image the postcontinued: "He jumps like a black man and grabs coins like aJew." The last part of the message has led the FootballAssociation (FA) to open an investigation into possible racismand anti-Semitism. Former FA executive and current chiefexecutive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson saidBalotelli should face action. "We abhor all forms of racism,wherever it is found," Johnson commented. Liverpool said it wasaware of the post, which has been removed by the player, andthat the club had discussed it with Balotelli. The 24-year-oldlater apologised on his Twitter account: "My Mom is Jewish soall of you shut up please". He also described reposting theimage as "my unlucky moment", and added later: "I apologise ifI've offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist withhumour. I now understand that out of context may have theopposite effect. Not all Mexicans have a moustache, not allblack people jump high and not all Jewish people love money. Iused a cartoon done by someone else because it has Super Marioand I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, I'msorry." . .