The news that Liverpool footballer Mario Balotelli is Britain’s most abused player will come as little surprise. The Italian striker has been one of the game’s most colourful, and controversial, figures. But the scale of hatred for him on social media is shocking – 8,000 postings, according to the pressure group Kick It Out, half of which are racist. And five times more than any other player.
Balotelli, of Ghanaian parentage but fostered from the age of three by a Jewish family, has faced intolerance all his life. From fans of rival clubs, who’ve racially abused him since his teenage years – once driving him to tears. Worse, from Italians who’ve singled him out for the national team’s poor performance, and team-mates questioning his loyalty. Italian politicians have joined in too. But in Britain also he’s faced undue criticism. His club captain slated him for taking a penalty that he scored. He was called “pathetic” for missing a match due to illness. He once described how racism “makes him feel alone”.
Balotelli is not the greatest player the world has seen, and he’s also been guilty of posting an offensive Instagram image, albeit inadvertently. But he is just 24 years old, and has had a life of vilification almost everywhere he has travelled. The social media abuse reveals the true human cost of his scapegoating.
