Mario Balotelli as a black Italian national hero? Long may it last | John Foot

Joy objectives Italy Balotelli is a stark contrast with the racism he faced. You can change national attitudes Super Mario?

When Mario Balotelli crashed the ball into the corner of the net against Germany last night, wrote La Repubblica, the German goalkeeper "saw the ball go a farmer observed a truck on highway. " At that time, the Italians in the world rose from their seats and the party began. The

festa

continued into the night across Italy, with the usual chaotic cacophony of car horns, fireworks, rockets, song and car conduct scary. But who was the hero of two Italian goals? Can some of those who were celebrating wildly as the same fans who, for years, Balotelli was given a very difficult stage of the entire peninsula. The song everyone the most infamous understand that the attacker was not what he claimed: "Balotelli is an Italian / you are a black African." Another version of this song was even more explicit. "There is no such thing as a black Italian".

As we now know, Mario Balotelli was born in Palermo in 1990 Ghanaian parents who gave him up for adoption to an Italian family in northern Italy when he was just two. Under Italian law, however, was unable to obtain Italian citizenship until the age of 18, despite being born in Italy and have always lived there. Meanwhile, players who were born elsewhere (eg, Thiago Motta current team, born in Brazil) was almost automatic right to Italian citizenship because they had relatives in Italy.

But Balotelli has always been Italian. He speaks with an accent broader Brescia, attended local schools and learned Italian football there. His "blackness" is the question, something he scored in a country that has experienced massive foreign immigration since the 1980s. And Super Mario is not a man to hide advertising. He is humble, but very confident. No arcs, but seems almost to enjoy the notoriety he received from fans and players. It is black and very good in football, and he is a winner. He played less than 100 games, with two major league clubs (Inter and Manchester City) and won four championships at the time (and four other trophies). Not bad for a 21-year-old.

Thus, two goals from Balotelli last night exposed the contradictions of racist chants against him. Do racist sit in their seats and look somber as the goals were scored? No, of course not. Party like everyone else. These two objectives have gained immense symbolic power. They are a sign that the Italian black is here to stay, and this is something that a large minority of Italians seems very difficult to accept. Mario Balotelli encapsulates the harsh reality of a multicultural society. Immigrants are generally acceptable, provided they are not visible, do not bother and have no rights, and work in kitchens, or as cleaners or caretakers.

Last month, some of those who died after an earthquake in central Italy were immigrants, forced to return to the factories which were then collapsed on their heads. Life in Italy, for the average immigrant is an exhausting and dangerous. There is supposed to be seen, to be rich and famous, or be good at something, or to be "one of us".

reactions to the recent success of the national team Balotelli was also instructive. After the match against England, La Gazzetta dello Sport published a cartoon Mario strange that King Kong. At best, it was in bad taste, especially since Croatia was fined for singing monkey Balotelli after a previous match in the tournament. However, La Gazzetta not seem to think he had made a mistake at all. I do not understand. Apology, when it finally arrived, it was reluctantly. They did not understand that Balotelli is a great ape could be considered a problem.

This morning he started Tuttosport. Its title was a play on words. "Li abbiamo fatti neri" (I did all black). This phrase literally means "I broke", "humiliated us." But the pun, a link between the word "neri" - black. It was very fun, and very problematic. Twitter has also been flooded with debate. Balotelli Some even said it was "Ghana." Defended Other Tuttosport title as a "joke." Racism is in itself a controversial idea, and this problem has haunted Balotelli career.

It is often said that the insults against him was his fault. People blame the victim, saying his "attitude" is provocative, and it was not a "true champion". This is why life in Italy, Balotelli will always be difficult. It has always been an easy target. Do not be fooled into thinking that he is forgiven for being a successful black Italian, something proud and arrogant. The next time you make a fatal error, or expelled, or think that it is not, hostility will quickly come to the surface. But these two spectacular goals made a difference. Therefore, there can be no doubt at all.
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