Why Balotelli won't be going back to Italy any time soon

[Captain...]

Why would they be celebrating his performance against England, what did he do other than miss sitters?

Sorry misread it was before the England game so, but it is still celebratory rather than negative.

Is this racist?:

[Zingari]

maybe the joker is saying, " about fvcking time Mario !"

[foxfanazer]

Sorry misread it was before the England game so, but it is still celebratory rather than negative.

Is this racist?:

King kong was black though, think its just how different people interpret things. A lot of Italians are extremely racist though

[Captain...]

King kong was black though, think its just how different people interpret things. A lot of Italians are extremely racist though

But to say that you can draw a cartoon of a white man in one pose but not a black man in the same pose sounds a little like discrimination to me, and crying racism at a perceived slight when in reality there is clearly no malice involved just feeds the hate mongers.

If it had been taking the piss out of Balotelli then it would be a different matter, but it wasn't.

Also it may be considered racist to say "A lot of Italians are extremely racist", but I'm not going to pick you up on that. But you do have to accept that other countries have different views to what is racist or not and what is acceptable or not, this goes back to Luis Suarez and the use of the word Negro (Spanish for black) and not a racist term in Spanish and South American countries and is a common way to refer to people, and bears no malice whatsoever.

[foxfanazer]

But to say that you can draw a cartoon of a white man in one pose but not a black man in the same pose sounds a little like discrimination to me, and crying racism at a perceived slight when in reality there is clearly no malice involved just feeds the hate mongers.

If it had been taking the piss out of Balotelli then it would be a different matter, but it wasn't.

Also it may be considered racist to say "A lot of Italians are extremely racist", but I'm not going to pick you up on that. But you do have to accept that other countries have different views to what is racist or not and what is acceptable or not, this goes back to Luis Suarez and the use of the word Negro (Spanish for black) and not a racist term in Spanish and South American countries and is a common way to refer to people, and bears no malice whatsoever.

I knew I was going to get pulled up on that Italian bit yeah I know what your saying, just think they could've used any other image than a king kong connotation

[ozleicester]

King kong was black though, think its just how different people interpret things. A lot of Italians are extremely racist though

[Captain...]

I knew I was going to get pulled up on that Italian bit yeah I know what your saying, just think they could've used any other image than a king kong connotation

But why? maybe it is thought of as a celebration that he is black. Maybe they thought of something iconically English, then thought of the player most likely to score past us, and put the 2 together.

[foxfanazer]

But why? maybe it is thought of as a celebration that he is black. Maybe they thought of something iconically English, then thought of the player most likely to score past us, and put the 2 together.

Ok they could've shown him slapping the queen round the face with his twelve inch cock

[Captain...]

Ok they could've shown him slapping the queen round the face with his twelve inch cock

That would be funnier.

[One Arm Babba]

Blatant racism. Disgusting that it gets printed in national press.

[Jordan]

But to say that you can draw a cartoon of a white man in one pose but not a black man in the same pose sounds a little like discrimination to me, and crying racism at a perceived slight when in reality there is clearly no malice involved just feeds the hate mongers.

If it had been taking the piss out of Balotelli then it would be a different matter, but it wasn't.

Also it may be considered racist to say "A lot of Italians are extremely racist", but I'm not going to pick you up on that. But you do have to accept that other countries have different views to what is racist or not and what is acceptable or not, this goes back to Luis Suarez and the use of the word Negro (Spanish for black) and not a racist term in Spanish and South American countries and is a common way to refer to people, and bears no malice whatsoever.

White people don't have to deal with fans making monkey and ape noises at them, or having bananas thrown at them, but Mario Balotelli does.

The difference between drawing a caricature of a white person as an ape and a black person is the vile history of racism surrounding the latter that has spanned centuries. Let's not be naïve here. As for the "Well, I don't see any resemblance between black people and apes," defense from MattP, well, that's not the point. Black people have been insulted racially like this for generations, and still are now (so are/were other groups, to be fair), so perhaps the cartoonist could have chosen a more tact metaphor (King Kong doesn't even take place anywhere close to London).

The cartoonist may have been just making a silly joke, and we don't know how (or if) Balotelli would react, but based on his past experiences and responses to racism, I don't think he'd be too happy.

[Guest Bilo]

Racism, sadly, is far from rare in the Italian game. There's little doubt in my mind that there was racist intent in the cartoon.

[21st Century Fox]

But to say that you can draw a cartoon of a white man in one pose but not a black man in the same pose sounds a little like discrimination to me, and crying racism at a perceived slight when in reality there is clearly no malice involved just feeds the hate mongers.

If it had been taking the piss out of Balotelli then it would be a different matter, but it wasn't.

Also it may be considered racist to say "A lot of Italians are extremely racist", but I'm not going to pick you up on that. But you do have to accept that other countries have different views to what is racist or not and what is acceptable or not, this goes back to Luis Suarez and the use of the word Negro (Spanish for black) and not a racist term in Spanish and South American countries and is a common way to refer to people, and bears no malice whatsoever.

It's not even comparable because of the historical context. Why don't white player's have banana's thrown at them during matches?

I've got Italian relatives and unfortunately know all too well how racist Italians can be. A friend of the family who by all accounts is a nice bloke in every other aspect of life, has a monkey 'charm' above the door inside his restaurant because it's traditionally supposed to ward off black people.

I don't think that cartoon is supposed to be particularly malicious, it's just an example of the casual racism that's deeply ingrained in their society.

[purpleronnie]

Just.....baffling.

[Tomassi]

Could be wrong, but isn't Balotelli the only Italian in the squad that currently plays in England? If he isn't, then at least he is the most high profiled...

To say that a lot of Italians are extremely racist is a shocking statement!!!

[FoxyPV]

Personally I think apes are magnificent creatures

[Raj]

Im more confused!

Why Balotelli on the image??

He did MORE to keep England in the game than do any damage to them!!!

Should have had Pirlo on it???

[foxfanazer]

Im more confused!

Why Balotelli on the image??

He did MORE to keep England in the game than do any damage to them!!!

Should have had Pirlo on it???

It was printed before the game but I agree with ya about why balotelli

[MC Prussian]

People read way too much into a simple cartoon.

It's just that, simple.

[Petchy]

People read way too much into a simple cartoon.

It's just that, simple.

Some people do, yes. But it's still a cartoon done in poor taste...

[Jaspa]

Why did they leave out him holding 'a woman in white'

Have Italy got nothing left to call virgin ?

Il make sure of that if I go on holiday there next eh???

[Captain...]

White people don't have to deal with fans making monkey and ape noises at them, or having bananas thrown at them, but Mario Balotelli does.

The difference between drawing a caricature of a white person as an ape and a black person is the vile history of racism surrounding the latter that has spanned centuries. Let's not be naïve here. As for the "Well, I don't see any resemblance between black people and apes," defense from MattP, well, that's not the point. Black people have been insulted racially like this for generations, and still are now (so are/were other groups, to be fair), so perhaps the cartoonist could have chosen a more tact metaphor (King Kong doesn't even take place anywhere close to London).

The cartoonist may have been just making a silly joke, and we don't know how (or if) Balotelli would react, but based on his past experiences and responses to racism, I don't think he'd be too happy.

Gareth Bale gets called a monkey all the time, but that is ok because he does look like a monkey.

It's not like he made Balotelli look like a monkey, or put his face on king kong, if you had never seen king kong, you wouldn't make the connection.

Like the Bruno chant for Heskey, in my eyes it is not racism because it is being positive, racism is negative discrimination towards somebody because of the colour of their skin, racism is not thinking black people look the same, or even that they look like monkeys, racism is believing that the colour of someone's skin makes them inferior, can anyone tell me where that is in the cartoon, because I can't see it.

[Raj]

Dont get all the loving for Balotelli..

He's a loose cannon and at best he is average.

Fair enough he may score the odd good goal against Stoke,and wear stupid T shirts!!!

[Captain...]

Dont get all the loving for Balotelli..

He's a loose cannon and at best he is average.

Fair enough he may score the odd good goal against Stoke,and wear stupid T shirts!!!

He had just scored a great goal against Ireland, admittedly not the greatest defence, and had looked the biggest goal threat for Italy all tournament, they've only scored 4 goals so far.

[Raj]

Great Goal against Ireland?

Yeah right.

Biggest goal THREAT was exactly that...THREAT!!

We'll see what he does against a proper team on Thursday!