Manchester City claims racial abuse in Portugal

PORTO, Portugal - Manchester City claimed on Friday that Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure were racially abused during the Europa League clash against Porto, media reports said.

City came from a goal down to beat the defending champion, 2-1, at the Estadio do Drago, but the BBC reported that club officials had informed them that the two black players had been targeted by sections of the home crowd.

After the final whistle, City manager Roberto Mancini said he had heard nothing unusual.

"I didn't hear the noise, because I was concentrating on the game," he said.

But it was claimed that after the game Balotelli told a City official he was subjected to racial abuse from the stands.

The club then announced that it intended to report it to UEFA.

Mancini added later: "I didn't hear (any racist chanting), sorry."

"I think Mario Balotelli and Yaya Toure are too strong (to be affected by it)."

Toure confirmed he had "heard something" from the stands.

Agence France-Presse

(China Daily 02/18/2012 page15)