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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Sport
Daniel Murphy

Former Man City striker Mario Balotelli walks off pitch after suffering racist abuse

Former Man City striker Mario Balotelli walked off the pitch after suffering from racist abuse while playing for Brescia away at Hellas Verona.

The game was 53 minutes old when Balotelli was competing for the ball at a corner flag in front of the home supporters when he received the abuse. The striker then picked up the ball while it was still in play and kicked it into the crowd.

The City favourite then walked off the pitch, despite the protests from Verona players, and the game was halted.

An announcement was then read out to the home supporters before the game resumed, with Balotelli continuing to play.

The striker then went on to score a fantastic goal as he curled a shot into the top corner from outside the box but it wasn't enough to overturn the deficit as Brescia lost 2-1.

Balotelli joined his home town club Brescia in the summer following his release from Marseille and has helped them compete in Serie A after earning promotion last season.

The 29-year-old remains a cult hero among City fans after two-and-a-half year stint at the club in which he scored 30 times and famously set up Sergio Aguero to score the last gasp, Premier League clinching goal against QPR.

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