FLORENCE-Racist insults thrown at AC Milan striker, Mario Balotelli, during World Cup training camp-although the 23 year old with Ghanaian roots is normally the subject of racial discrimination, Mr Balotelli appeared particularly upset by the comments.

With the football World Cup fast approaching the Italian national squad have stepped up the intensity of training sessions with their main focus being to finish top of their group and to qualify for the quarterfinals.

However, the AC Milan star, Mario Balotelli, appears to have his own problems as he was made the subject of racist abuse during a national training camp.

A group of young people who were gathered outside the Federal Technical Centre sang offensive chants whilst the striker was performing the standard warm-up drills with the rest of the National Squad.

Mario Balotelli appeared infuriated and distraught by the racist remarks, the most profound being “negro di m…...” which was shouted by one of the young men standing behind the fence of the sport complex.  

“Only in Rome and Florence are people so foolish” commented Mario Balotelli to his fellow teammate Claudio Marchisio in reaction to the racist remarks.

The Milan striker however ignored the abuse being hurled at him and continued training with Renzo Casellato, one of the two specialist coaches. However, a young girl also joined in with the racist banter at which point the police had to intervene.

As of yesterday the police have appointed patrol officers for inside and outside the training ground in order to prevent the occurrence of similar episodes of racial discrimination in the future and to stop any one from disturbing the work of Cesare Prendelli, the head coach of the Italian football team.