Balotelli 'racially abused in Milan derby'

Balotelli started his career with Inter before a turbulent spell in England with Manchester City and returned to the city in January when AC Milan signed him.

That was always likely to make him a target of abuse for the Inter fans, but Italian media reported that supporters targeted him for his skin colour during Sunday night's game, waving inflatable bananas and jeering.

A Lega Serie A spokeswoman told Press Association Sport that the disciplinary council would rule on the events of the match at the San Siro among others from the weekend's fixture list in a meeting held in Milan on Tuesday afternoon.

Newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport were among those to report that inflatable bananas were being waved by Inter supporters during the 1-1 draw.

Balotelli was also seen to raise his finger to his lips in an apparent bid to silence his detractors.

The 22-year-old striker was unable to muster an even better response in the form of a goal, his nearest attempt hitting the post.

The banners that Inter fans waved at Balotelli were scathing:

"The shirt that made you famous must not be thrown away. It must be respected," read one banner, while another said, "You have thrown away our shirt. We will always insult the ungrateful and notorius Balotelli."

Earlier this month Balotelli was the target of racist chanting from a section of Inter fans during the Nerazzurri's game with Chievo, for which Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti apologised afterwards while expressing his hope there would be no repeat in the derby.

That was the second time Balotelli has been the victim of racism on his return to Italy.

The first saw AC Milan vice-president Paolo Berlusconi - the younger brother of club owner Silvio - filmed at a political meeting in Monza near Milan describing Balotelli as "negretto della famiglia'' - translated as ''the family's little n****''.

That led to accusations of hypocrisy at the Rossoneri just four weeks after Silvio Berlusconi praised midfielder Kevin-Prince Boateng for walking off the pitch after he was racially abused during a friendly against Pro Patria.