Verona have formally banned the ultras leader who claimed Mario Balotelli was “never completely Italian” and openly calling him racial slurs.
The shocking interview was meant to reassure Balotelli that racist chants were “only in his own head” and yet Luca Castellini went on to exhibit precisely the kind of aggressively racist rhetoric that is causing the issues.
Verona have formally banned the ultras leader who claimed Mario Balotelli was “never completely Italian” and openly calling him racial slurs.
The shocking interview was meant to reassure Balotelli that racist chants were “only in his own head” and yet Luca Castellini went on to exhibit precisely the kind of aggressively racist rhetoric that is causing the issues.
Serie A club Verona have taken action, as while still denying there was audible racist abuse in the stands during the game, Castellini was easy to identify via his interview.
“Hellas Verona FC announce that it has taken action to ban Mr Luca Castellini from its games until June 2030,” read a statement.
“It is considered proportional to the seriousness of the situation, in light of the rules laid out in articles 6 and 7 of the Code of Behaviour, as his considerations and comments were utterly contrary to the ethical principles and values of this club.”