Players and match officials persuaded Mario Balotelli to remain on the pitch following racist abuse from the stands
Mario Balotelli kicked the ball into the crowd and threatened to walk off the pitch following racial abuse during Brescia's defeat by Hellas Verona.
Referee Maurizio Mariani suspended play and initiated the anti-racism protocol after Italy striker Balotelli, 29, picked up the ball in the 54th-minute.
Brescia team-mates and the officials persuaded the ex-Manchester City and Liverpool player to stay on the field.
An announcement warned fans that more abuse would see the game abandoned.
Balotelli played the full match and scored a sublime goal in the 85th-minute - though his side were unable to find a late equaliser.
Balotelli previously said he would walk off the pitch if he was again subjected to racial abuse after he and AC Milan team-mates were targeted in a Serie A match against Roma in 2013.
In March 2018, the then-Nice forward had a booking for complaining about alleged racist chants by Dijon fans rescinded.
On Saturday, another Serie A match between Roma and Napoli was temporarily paused due to chants aimed at Napoli supporters.
Anti-discriminatory body Fare claimed earlier this season that Italian football's disciplinary systems to combat racism are "not fit for purpose".
That came after Cagliari were cleared of racist chanting towards Inter Milan striker Romelu Lukaku, with a judging panel determining there was not enough evidence for sanctions.
- Roma hand lifetime ban to supporter who racially abused defender
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Hellas Verona
1Silvestri
13Rrahmani
24KumbullaSubstituted forDawidowiczat 16'minutes
33EmpereurBooked at 19mins
5Faraoni
34S Amrabat
4Pinto VelosoSubstituted forPessinaat 54'minutes
88Lazovic
20Zaccagni
14Verre
29Salcedo MoraSubstituted forStepinskiat 73'minutes
Substitutes
3Vitale
8Henderson
9Stepinski
11Pazzini
22Berardi
25Danzi
27Dawidowicz
30de Oliveira Andrade
32Pessina
66Tutino
96Radunovic
98Adjapong
Brescia
1Joronen
3MatejuBooked at 36mins
15Cistana
19MangravitiBooked at 9minsSubstituted forNdojat 45'minutes
4TonaliBooked at 90mins
2Sabelli
25Bisoli
28Orestes Caldeira
26MartellaBooked at 5minsSubstituted forCurcioat 86'minutes
45Balotelli
9DonnarummaSubstituted forMatriat 71'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
5Gastaldello
6Ndoj
7Spalek
8Zmrhal
16Curcio
18Aye
21Matri
22Alfonso
Referee:
Maurizio Mariani
Match Stats
Home TeamHellas VeronaAway TeamBrescia
Possession
Home52%
Away48%
Shots
Home11
Away16
Shots on Target
Home3
Away5
Corners
Home5
Away1
Fouls
Home19
Away15
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Verona 2, Brescia 1.
DismissalPosted at 90'+7'
Alessandro Matri (Brescia) is shown the red card.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Verona 2, Brescia 1.
Posted at 90'+5'
Foul by Sofyan Amrabat (Verona).
Posted at 90'+5'
Dimitri Bisoli (Brescia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
BookingPosted at 90'+4'
Sandro Tonali (Brescia) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 90'+4'
Mattia Zaccagni (Verona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 90'+4'
Foul by Sandro Tonali (Brescia).
Posted at 90'+1'
Foul by Marco Faraoni (Verona).
Posted at 90'+1'
Emanuele Ndoj (Brescia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 88'
Darko Lazovic (Verona) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Posted at 88'
Foul by Stefano Sabelli (Brescia).
Posted at 87'
Mariusz Stepinski (Verona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 87'
Foul by Emanuele Ndoj (Brescia).
SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Brescia. Felipe Curcio replaces Bruno Martella.
Goal!Posted at 85'
Goal! Verona 2, Brescia 1. Mario Balotelli (Brescia) right footed shot from outside the box to the top right corner. Assisted by Rômulo.
Posted at 84'
Attempt blocked. Mariusz Stepinski (Verona) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Marco Faraoni.
Goal!Posted at 81'
Goal! Verona 2, Brescia 0. Matteo Pessina (Verona) left footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Mattia Zaccagni.
Posted at 80'
Attempt saved. Mario Balotelli (Brescia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Dimitri Bisoli with a cross.
Posted at 80'
Foul by Mariusz Stepinski (Verona).
Posted at 80'
Ales Mateju (Brescia) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 76'
Attempt missed. Amir Rrahmani (Verona) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Valerio Verre following a set piece situation.
Posted at 76'
Mariusz Stepinski (Verona) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Sandro Tonali (Brescia).
Posted at 75'
Attempt missed. Rômulo (Brescia) right footed shot from the centre of the box is too high. Assisted by Dimitri Bisoli.
Posted at 74'
Attempt missed. Mariusz Stepinski (Verona) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Alan Empereur.
SubstitutionPosted at 73'
Substitution, Verona. Mariusz Stepinski replaces Eddie Salcedo.
Posted at 72'
Sofyan Amrabat (Verona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 72'
Foul by Rômulo (Brescia).
Posted at 72'
Attempt blocked. Mario Balotelli (Brescia) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Emanuele Ndoj.
SubstitutionPosted at 71'
Substitution, Brescia. Alessandro Matri replaces Alfredo Donnarumma.
Posted at 70'
Sofyan Amrabat (Verona) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Rômulo (Brescia).
Posted at 70'
Attempt missed. Valerio Verre (Verona) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Darko Lazovic following a fast break.
Posted at 69'
Foul by Pawel Dawidowicz (Verona).
Posted at 69'
Mario Balotelli (Brescia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 68'
Attempt missed. Mario Balotelli (Brescia) right footed shot from outside the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Alfredo Donnarumma.
Posted at 67'
Attempt saved. Mario Balotelli (Brescia) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom left corner.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Valerio Verre (Verona).
Posted at 66'
Mario Balotelli (Brescia) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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goal
Source: bbc.com