Mario Balotelli was racially abused during Italy Spain Euro 2012 group c opener as hundreds of Spanish fans chanted monkey noises at the controversial Italy striker with black skin.

Gdansk / NationalTurk – Just days after reports of the Dutch team being on the receiving end of vile racial abuse during a training session held in the stadium in Krakow, the latest race storm has overshadowed Italy’s 1-1 draw with the reigning European champions.

Mario Balotelli, who had a frustrating hour on the pitch before being substituted, threatened before Euro 2012 to walk off the pitch if he was abused during a match at the tournament that is suffering from racism allegations.

Mario Balotelli had to suffer another racist abuse as Italy drew with Spain

British foreign secretary Douglas Alexander has advised England players to leave the field in protest if they are targeted by racists when they face France in today’s group d clash.

He said: ‘I support referees taking the strongest possible action in the face of racist abuse from the tribunes. They have the power to stop the match. However, if a referee ignored blatant racist abuse, and the England players or their management felt they were justified in walking off, they should be supported in their action.’

Euro 2012 : True or fabrication of British media : racism , racial abuse clouds a well starting Euro 2012

Witness claim that racial abusive chants in form of monkey noises were heard from the ranks of Spain fans. British photographer Chris Brunskill, a 35-year-old from Liverpool, witnessed the abuse in the 40,000-seater Arena Gdansk in Poland, as Balotelli punches the ground after failing to get the better of the Spanish defence.

He described the scene at Italy Spain game of Euro 2012 as : ‘I was sat behind the goal with all the Spanish fans behind me and they were involved in monkey chanting and laughter and mockery whenever Mario Balotelli was on the ball.

‘The ringleaders were two fans who were in fancy dress as Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal. But the stewards just seemed to think it was a laugh, and they did nothing. They seemed to think it was a giggle.

‘These two were at the centre of it in my view but there were hundreds in the Spanish section joining in. I would say there were around 200-300 who joined in at times. It was especially bad when Balotelli was involved in any kind of trouble or altercation, for example when he was booked.’

Photographers are witness to monkey chants aimed at Mario Balotelli

Another photographer, the Welsh Michael Steele from Getty Images stated: ‘I could not see who was involved but it was obvious they were monkey chants. It was disgusting. There is no excuse for it. I am pretty sure Mario Balotelli knew what was going on and heard it as he was close to that section of the crowd when he was booked.

‘There were also what sounded like derogatory chants in Spanish with his name involved, but I do not know what they meant.’

Greek freelance photographer Yiannis Kourtoglou, 31, who lives in Cyprus, said: ‘ The monkey whoops were from the Spanish end. I could not see how many people were involved but they were clear.’

‘They were designed to put him off his game and they clearly worked – he had a terrible match.

‘It was terrible for him and for me as well. He is a human being not a monkey.’ It is still unclear if Balotelli or the Italian bench heard the abuse but manager Cesare Prandelli previously told he would back his player in walking off.

Manchester City ‘s troubled, yet talented star Balotelli, 21, has already been singled out for abuse online with Italian neo-Nazis claiming he should not be playing for the national team.

UEFA have vowed to investigate any racism at the Euro 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

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