Allegri plays down Balotelli incident

Both Milan and Catania have played down an incident that reportedly saw Mario Balotelli racially abused in Sunday's Serie A fixture.

Balotelli - who scored Milan's second goal on Sunday with a superb free kick - was clearly agitated after having multiple run-ins with Catania defender Nicolas Spolli and was substituted shortly before the end following Kaka's clincher to put his side 3-1 up.

Widespread reports in the Italian media have since claimed the former Inter and Manchester City man was subject to a racial slur from the Argentine, but Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri was unaware of any such incident.
"It was a fair game. I don’t think anything happened,” he told Sky Sport Italia. "Balotelli was a little tense and I preferred to remove him from the game, especially as were 3-1 up and he needs to rest."

Catania coach Luigi De Canio feels there must have been a misunderstanding, adding that Spolli would not engage in such abuse.

"Spolli is a good man, so I think it must’ve been a misunderstanding," he said

Milan came from behind to end its five-game winless streak with goals from captain Riccardo Montolivo, Balotelli and Kaka overturning Lucas Castro's early opener for the hosts.