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Porto punished for racially abusing Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli

 

Pa
Wednesday 04 April 2012 08:57 BST
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<b>16 February 2012</b><br/>
Mario Balotelli of Manchester City is pictured during his team's win over Porto in the Europa League.
16 February 2012
Mario Balotelli of Manchester City is pictured during his team's win over Porto in the Europa League.

Uefa have fined Portuguese club Porto £16,700 after their supporters racially abused Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli in February.

The European governing body tonight confirmed the punishment following a meeting of their control and disciplinary body which took place last week.

City lodged a complaint after Balotelli was subjected to monkey taunts during the first leg of their Europa League last-32 tie at the Estadio do Dragao on February 16.

Porto have three days to appeal against the verdict.

There were outbreaks of monkey chanting throughout the game, which City won 2-1, but it appeared most noticeable when Balotelli was substituted 12 minutes from time.

Porto coach Vitor Pereira later claimed there may have been a misunderstanding and that fans were actually chanting, "Hulk, Hulk, Hulk" at the club's star player.

That has been dismissed with a statement reading: "The Uefa control and disciplinary body has imposed a fine of 20,000 euros on FC Porto for racist conduct of their supporters at their first-leg round of 32 Uefa Europa League match against Manchester City FC on 16 February in Porto."

PA

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