The Juventus ultras group Drughi have released a statement explaining why their insults towards Mario Balotelli “were not racism and we won’t apologise.”
The club has been hit by a one-match ban behind closed doors after supporters in the Curva Filadelfia repeatedly hurled racist insults at Inter striker Balotelli during Saturday’s 1-1 draw.
Juve released a statement apologising for this behaviour, but now the Drughi Ultras have issued their own Press release.
“We will not apologise to Balotelli, because the chants against him were a response to his provocation and general attitude on the pitch and not with regards to his origins,” announced the Drughi-Juventus Club Curva Filadelfia.
“This is evident by the fact that his teammates Patrick Vieira and Sulley Muntari were not even jeered at all.
“For years now in almost every stadium Juve are greeted by chants of ‘Liverpool, Liverpool’, while the names of (deceased former players) Gaetano Scirea, Riccardo Neri, Alessio Ferramosca and Daniele Fortunato have been used and abused in every conceivable way, yet the media was never indignant about that.
“Racism is nothing to do with this and it was only a way, albeit debatable, to make our opponent lose his concentration,” insisted the Drughi group of fans.
“We would like to point out in our squad is an ‘ebony icon’ Momo Sissoko, who we hold in our hearts and are proud that he wears our shirt.
“This is why we do not feel the need to apologise. Juve-Lecce will be played behind closed doors because it had already been decided.
“Instead of a lesson in efficiency and because you cannot warn an entire stadium, the authorities opted for the radical solution.”
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