Brescia's Mario Balotelli Subjected to Racist Abuse, Persuaded to Stay in Match

Mario Balotelli almost walked off the pitch in Brescia's 2-1 defeat to Hellas Verona on Sunday after being racially abused by supporters at the Stadio Marcantonio Bentegodi.

According to Goal, Balotelli was persuaded by his team-mates and Verona players to stay on the pitch after he received abuse from the stands.

After the striker decided to remain, the match was stopped by the referee and a statement was read out to the crowd over the public address system.

Upon receiving the abuse, the Italian picked up the ball and angrily kicked it into the stands.

Verona manager Ivan Juric denied that racist abuse took place. He told Sky Sport Italia (h/t Football-Italia): 

"You can ask him, there was nothing there. I am disgusted by racist abuse and I will be the first to condemn it when it happens, but this was not it.

"They provoked him with jeers and sarcastic chants, but they were not racist. Anything else is a lie."

Balotelli went on to score in the 85th minute against Verona, but the goal proved to be only a consolation after Eddie Salcedo and Matteo Pessina had put the hosts in front.

Per Goal, the 29-year-old has been racially abused while playing for Inter Milan, AC Milan, Manchester City and Nice over the course of his career.

It is not the first time this season Verona have been involved in such incidents.

In September, the club denied fans had racially abused Milan midfielder Franck Kessie, per ESPN FC's Andrew Cesare:

Inter striker Romelu Lukaku was racially abused by Cagliari supporters in September.

Cagliari fans also abused Moise Kean while he was playing for Juventus in April. Balotelli backed Kean following the incident and was critical of Juve defender Leonardo Bonucci when Bonucci suggested his team-mate was "50-50" to blame.