Italy’s Balotelli Threatens to Walk-off Over Racist Abuse. The Brescia football player stopped the game when he picked the ball up and volleyed it into the offending section of the stadium, while his team-mates, Verona players and officials convinced him not to leave the field before referee Maurizio Mariani initiated the anti-racism protocol. Reuters reported that Italian football player was convinced to stay in the game by team-mates, Verona players and officials before referee Maurizio Mariani initiated the anti-racism protocol. As a result, the game was temporarily suspended while a message was read out by the stadium announcer which warned that the match would be canceled if racist abuse continued. This was the second time such a protocol has been followed in Serie A this weekend after the game between Roma and Napoli was briefly halted when territorial chants were directed at the Napoli supporters.
