Mario Balotelli would, in any other country, be seen as an exceptionally talented young footballer looking to break into the national side. In Italy, he has become the symbol of a nation that apparently refuses to accept a multi-ethnic society. The situation has been compounded as two of the most successful coaches in the footballing world, currently working in Italy, has dismissed the abuse directed at Balotelli.

Champions League-winning coach Jose Mourinho, who currently coaches Balotelli at Inter Milan along with World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi are the two esteemed men in question. Given their achievements and massive influence in the footballing world, one would assume the two would use their standing in the game to condemn this abuse and support a player who has the talent to lead Italian football for years to come. Instead, they have protected the racists and morons in the crowds by denying the abuse is racist. One explain why they have come to such conclusions through their respective characters.

Mourinho’s narcissistic and solipsistic nature means he is always likely to attempt to feed his ego by gathering the support of a greater majority rather than take the morally correct option. For a tactician renowned for his excellent man-management skills, this is exceptionally poor form. As for Lippi, one can learn a lot about his qualities through his previous assertions in the media:

“In the current climate, two national team players could never be involved in an open relationship. This is not a question of culture but is more related to the fact that such a relation would create conflicts contrary to the interests of the dynamics of the group. Imagine how a homosexual couple in football would be perceived. Even if, socially, most people would support and understand such a situation it would nonetheless become magnified and eventually would be viewed negatively.”

Having moved over from defending homophobia to racism, Lippi has defended the fans of former club Juventus, whose minority of extremist fans have taken to two chants in particular, with ‘If you jump up and down, Balotelli dies’ and ‘A negro cannot be Italian’ explaining why it is predominantly Balotelli of all the Black footballers in Serie A that is targeted for abuse. The youngster was born to Ghanaian parents in Palermo, the Italian capital, abandoned and then adopted at the age of two by the Balotelli household from Brescia.

Those who argue that the abuse directed at ‘Super Mario’ is not racist but directed at his general attitude use the examples of other black Italians in Stefano Okaka Chuka and Fabiano Santacroce, both of whom have not suffered anywhere near the level of racism that Balotelli regularly receives from opposition fans, perhaps because his career has been far more successful, pushing him into the national spotlight.

The fact remains that using the term ‘Black’ in any chant where the intent is clearly derogatory is racist, irrespective of whether the abuse is individualised or general. Balotelli’s Inter team-mate Samuel Eto’o suffered similar abuse from opposition fans in Spain, during his time at Barcelona, yet fellow Black team-mates such as Ronaldinho were not. Here is where Mourinho and Lippi’s denials break down:

“If the problem was purely racist, I don’t see why they would not have shouted something at (Inter’s Sulley) Muntari and (Patrick) Vieira, who have exactly the same skin colour as Balotelli. Evidently there are other things. Turin has never been racist. There are chants against white footballers that are much worse than other chants. I don’t think there was racist intent on the part of those who did the chants, but a desire to offend someone for various reasons created within the context of the game.”

Balotelli’s nature has always been one of a confident, bold person and perhaps this adds to the abuse, but the underlying fact is fans have used his skin colour to attack arguably unappealing, often controversial character. This was again the case on Wednesday as fans of Chievo Verona abused the Italian youngster as he scored the winner in the day’s early kick-off. Balotelli’s frustration at the racism was evident after the game as he stated: “Every time I come to Verona, the city disgusts me even more.” What was worse was Mourinho dismissing his own player’s protestations, instead choosing to dwell on his own reaction to abuse in a self-congratulatory tone:

“Let’s not get too carried away by it. I also heard a few unsavoury things about myself, but I just ignore it.”

In addition to this clear lack of support from his own coach, Balotelli was also criticized by the Mayor of Verona, Flavio Tosi, a member of the ‘Liga Veneta-Lega Nord’ political party. Tosi has taken a clear anti-immigration policy, closing the gypsy camp of Boscomantico, while being found guilty of the instigation of racism in 2004 and the promotion of a hatred campaign in 2007, although he was belatedly deemed innocent of both, with the Italian Court of Cassation stating it is acceptable to discriminate against the Roma people on the grounds that they are thieves but that Tosi is prejudiced and not racist. Yet, it is clear what sort of man Tosi is through his political career and his comments in retaliation to a frustrated Balotelli’s outburst against racism in Verona:

“Balotelli is just a little kid who is immature and presuming. He will never be a champion. The real champions are those who show humility and have good sense. Balotelli doesn’t have these qualities. Taking things out on the Chievo fans, who are among the best in Italy, is a paradox. Poor Balotelli will never be a champion.”

While a significant proportion of the Italian population is not racist, the reaction to other Black Italians making significant strides in the spotlight will reveal whether the issue is widespread or not. Italy’s immigrant total is reaching close to 7% of the population. With football so prominent in the media spotlight, it must be used as a tool for positive social change and influential figures such as Lippi and Mourinho must not cover the issue but confront it. Lippi has called up Napoli defender Fabiano Santacroce, born to an Italian father and a Brazilian mother, to the national team squad, stating:

“We live in intolerant times. If the presence of Santacroce with the national team sends a message against racism, I am happy about that.”

Now, if only, he could condemn the abuse Mario Balotelli receives and even attempt to break the taboo against homosexual relationships in team sports, rather than conform to the social norm as he has done. He, along with Mourinho and other coaches also, is in a position to do, but it depends whether he has the cojones to do so. Italian football would be better for it.