Race row over Balotelli cartoon

Anti-racism campaigners have blasted a cartoon in an Italian newspaper depicting Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli as King Kong.

The Italian forward is reported to be deeply unhappy at the cartoon and the Gazzetta dello Sport has apologised.

A spokesman for anti-discrimination group Kick It Out said: "Mario's very presence in the Italian team is symbolic on so many levels. The Italian media ought to champion this individual rather than singling him out as a scapegoat and somehow inferior to his international team-mates."

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