Racism storm surrounds Mario Balotelli

AC Milan’s Mario Balotelli is at the centre of a race controversy following comments made by the club’s vice-president Paolo Berlusconi.

The 22-year-old who completed the move to the Serie A side from Manchester City made an immediate impact with two goals on his debut against Udinese.

However Balotelli has been subject to racist remarks made by the club’s vice-president Paolo Berlusconi, the younger brother of former Italian prime minster and Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi.

Berlusconi described Balotelli as “negretto di famiglia”

“I’ve finished. OK, we are all off to see the family’s little ******. He’s a madhead. All the young ladies are invited as well – you can even have a chance to meet the president.” said Paolo Berlusconi during a political meeting for the People of Freedom Party in Monza over the weekend.

The incident was filmed by local reporters and is being shown on the website of Italian newspaper La Repubblica.

The comments have caused outrage in Italy, coming a month after AC Milan players walked off during a friendly match in protest to racial abuse from the crowd directed at Kevin Prince Boateng.

This action won plaudits from d Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi who praised the players for their behaviour and said at the time there should be a zero tolerance policy against racisim.