Italians promise to support Mario Balotelli over racism stance

Italy coach Cesare Prandelli has promised to support Mario Balotelli by leaving the bench and walking on to the pitch should the Manchester City forward suffer racist abuse during Euro 2012.

Balotelli warned earlier this week that he would leave the pitch and go home if fears of racist chanting were realised during the tournament in Poland and Ukraine.

The 21 year-old, who was the victim of monkey chants while playing for City against Porto in the Europa League last season, also said that he would 'kill' anyone who threw bananas at him after revealing he was once targeted for such abuse while in Rome.

But with Balotelli's comments casting a shadow over the tournament, which begins when Poland play Greece in Warsaw next Friday, Prandelli said that the forward would be backed by the full Italian squad.

"If there are racist boos directed at Balotelli, we would all leave the bench and walk on to the pitch," Prandelli said. "We would do something for Mario."

Despite the concerns raised by Balotelli, Prandelli claimed at Italy's Coverciano training camp yesterday (Thursday) that the former Inter Milan player was relaxed about the tournament, with his only worry being toothache.

Prandelli said: "Mario is clear and reasoned, beyond the toothache, for which he has missed training this morning."

Fears of racist abuse have grown following an expose by the BBC programme Panorama, in Britain, which highlighted the problems experienced by both host countries. Images of supporters giving Nazi salutes and singing racist and anti-semitic chants were shown, prompting former England defender Sol Campbell to warn England fans to avoid travelling.

Uefa has confirmed that referees have the authority to abandon games, but officials from the two host countries have dismissed concerns over the prospect of ugly chants and banners inside the stadiums.

Meanwhile, fans travelling to Euro 2012 have been warned not to get drunk on local vodka and jump into the Dnipro river, which runs through Kiev. "We've warned all the embassies that fans must not go [river] bathing," Kiev deputy mayor Anatoly Holubchenko.

"It's a matter of great regret that a lot of very strong alcohol is sold in our shops. [We want] alcohol stronger than 4-5 per cent not to be sold within a 1.5km radius of the stadium in the Euro 2012 period."