Referee who booked Mario Balotelli ‘for complaining about racist fan abuse’ being sued
Italian striker, who played for Manchester City and Liverpool, was cautioned during Nice's 3-2 defeat at Dijon last weekend
THE referee who booked Mario Balotelli for complaining about racism is being sued.
The Representative Council of Black Associations (CRAN) confirmed today that they will be taking legal action against match official Nicolas Rainville, according to Get French Football.
Balotelli, 27, was cautioned after informing the ref of the alleged racist chanting from fans during Nice's 3-2 defeat at Dijon on Sunday.
The former Manchester City and Liverpool striker missed a chance on 72 minutes and was unhappy with the reaction from the home supporters which followed.
He spoke to the referee about the incident, but was cautioned himself.
Nice's official Twitter account's post about it, read: "During the break, Mario Balotelliwas shown a yellow, after... being annoyed for racist abuse from the public."
Dijon goalkeeper Baptiste Reynet insists he was not aware of any chanting.
He explained: “I told Mario that I had not heard racist chanting but he replied to me that there were some. Two or three supporters apparently provoked him.”
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CRAN is a federation of African and Afro-Caribbean associations in France.
It was created over a decade ago in November 2005.
Its first chairperson was Benin-born Patrick Lozes, the son of former Beninese Minister Gabriel Lozes, and he was reelected in 2008.
Martinique-born Louis-Georges Tin, a LGBT activist, succeeded him in 2011.
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