Mario Balotelli: People who deny I was racially abused are not ‘real men’, Brescia striker says

Balotelli threatened to walk off the pitch after being subjected to racist abuse by Hellas Verona supporters

Mario Balotelli has branded those who deny he was racially abused as not "real men".

The Brescia striker threatened to walk off the pitch during his side's game with Hellas Verona after a group of fans made monkey noises at Balotelli.

Balotelli was convinced to stay by teammates and scored as Brescia fell to a 2-1 defeat, and thanked his colleagues and fans for their support.

“Thank you to all my colleagues on the pitch and off for the solidarity expressed and for all the messages I have received from fans," Balotelli wrote on Instagram.

"Thank you from the heart,

“You proved yourselves to be real men, not like those who deny the evidence.”

Verona's manager Ivan Juric denied that any racist chants could be heard after the game. and president Maurizio Setti insisted likewise.

After picking up the ball while dribbling towards the corner, Balotelli angrily kicked it towards the section of the stands from which the racist abuse was coming.

It was the second time this weekend that a Serie A game had been suspended due to offensive chanting, after Roma supporters aimed anti-territorial chants at Napoli on Saturday.

“To those ‘people’ in the Curva who made monkey noises at me… Shame on you. Shame on you. Shame on you," Balotelli added in a comment on Instagram.

"That you do this in front of your children, your wives, your parents, your family and friends… Shame.”