BRESCIA fans have branded Mario Balotelli "arrogant", while giving their backing to Hellas Verona supporters amidst the on-running racism row.
The Italian forward, 29, threatened to walk off the pitch during last weekend's game after having sick racist chants aimed his way.
But now his OWN supporters have given their backing to the racist fans just days after Hellas Verona were hit with a one-game partial stadium ban.
Balotelli claims to have heard monkey chants from the stands coming from rival fans, but Verona's mayor and club president Ivan Juric say no such abuse occurred.
Now, in an horrific twist, Brescia's ultras have released a statement defending the vile Hellas Verona fans – slamming the "arrogant" striker in the process.
The statement read: “If Balotelli was not ready psychologically to face the Verona fanbase and, above all, such a delicate match in which our city and our coach – among the most beloved figures – was taking his final chance at saving his job, then he should’ve said so and left his place to someone less irritable than him.
"None of us would’ve been upset if he had, quite the contrary.
“The personal declarations of one of the leaders of the Verona Curva cannot justify the witch-hunt sparked by the media and institutions in yet another attempt to criminalise and destroy the entire Ultras world.
“This does not mean that certain chants are legitimate or acceptable, but nor are all Verona fans racists and the Verona Curva some sort of KKK coven.
“Entire fanbases cannot be considered racist, but racism does exist and it is often used to create mass panic in public opinion.
"This unconventional language is used more and more by public and political figures, but of course nobody would think of banning them because of some code of ethics.
“We have absolutely no doubts that Balotelli is to all intents Italian, and even a Bresciano, but the arrogance that he continually gives off is unjustifiable.
“The notorious ‘Balotellate’ antics are now all too well known.
"What matters more to us are the spirit of sacrifice, passion respect, motivation and sweating for the shirt, concepts that seem to be entirely unknown to him.
“We condemn any gesture or provocation that is clearly hostile and discriminatory, but, we also want to give our solidarity to those who once again saw their liberty destroyed.
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