Brescia are at the centre of a major racism storm after they blamed a misunderstanding on chairman Massimo Cellino's shock insult aimed at Mario Balotelli.
The football world has been left aghast at the ex- Leeds United chairman's disgusting view on the the club's marquee forward.
Cellino said: "What can I say? That he's black and he's working to whiten himself but he has great difficulties in this."
The vile slur is the latest in a string of insults aimed at the former Manchester City and Liverpool striker during his time back in his homeland.
It comes after Fabio Grosso left Balotelli out of Sunday's squad for the 3-0 defeat at Roma and challenged him to show more "determination and enthusiasm" to regain his place.
A club statement said: "In relation to what president Massimo Cellino declared this afternoon about our player Mario Balotelli, Brescia Calcio explains that it was clearly a joke said as a paradox.
"It was clearly misunderstood and it was said in the attempt to downplay an excessive media exposure and aimed at protecting the player."
The striker has endured years of abuse in Italy and Gazzetta hello Sport infamously depicted Balotelli as King Kong on top of Big Ben back in 2012.
