Nice's Mario Balotelli talks with referee Nicolas Rainville during a Ligue 1 game at Dijon on Saturday. Philippe Desmazes/AFP/Getty ImagesKick It Out have condemned the comments toward Mario Balotelli after the Nice forward claimed he had been the victim of racist abuse.
Balotelli received a yellow card from referee Nicolas Rainville after gesturing to the crowd during Nice's 3-2 defeat at Dijon in Saturday's Ligue 1 contest.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool forward complained that he had been targeted by racist comments.
The English anti-racism and discrimination organisation released a statement, noting that it has contacted Football Against Racism in Europe in order to raise its concerns with Ligue 1 officials.
"Kick It Out was shocked to see Mario Balotelli booked for bringing to the attention of the referee alleged racist chanting directed towards him by Dijon supporters," the statement read.
"It is unacceptable and wrong to see that once again, a match official has failed to apply the UEFA protocol -- in place for a number of years -- which requires action to be taken to stop the game to deal with the offending abuse."
The organisation also said that it "expects a strong response from the French football authorities in condemning both the alleged racist chanting from Dijon supporters and the failure of the referee to follow protocol to halt the behaviour, as well as the decision to compound Balotelli's experience as a victim by booking him for merely asking the match official to do his job."
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