AC Milan soccer vice president describes Mario Balotelli with racist slur

Mario Balotelli

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli is in the middle of another controversy over racism in Italian soccer.

Balotelli, who moved to AC Milan from Manchester City just a few days ago, was described as “negretto di famiglia” — translated as “the family’s little [n-word]” — by Milan vice president Paolo Berlusconi, younger brother of club president (and former Italian prime minster) Silvio Berlusconi.

Paolo Berlusconi made the remarks at a rally for a candidate for his brother’s right-wing People of Freedom party.

The translation of his comments: “OK, we are all off to see the family’s little [n-word]. He’s a crazy head. All the young ladies are invited as well – you can even have a chance to meet the president [Silvio Berlusconi].”

The remarks didn’t draw much attention from the Italian press at first. But the international media has picked up on the story as part of a series of racist incidents in Italian soccer. Recently, Milan midfielder Kevin Prince-Boateng staged a walk-off during a match when fans were shouting racist insults at him.

During Euro 2012, the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport published a cartoon depicting Balotelli as King Kong climbing Big Ben.

An AC Milan spokesman said Wednesday that there would be no comment from the club regarding Berlusconi’s remarks.

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