UEFA probing Balotelli racism claims

UEFA on Tuesday said that it was investigating claims Italy striker Mario Balotelli was racially abused during the country's Euro 2012 Group C match against European champions Spain. "Following the provision of new independent information today (Tuesday) regarding the two cases of alleged racist chanting in the Spain-Italy and Russia-Czech Republic matches, UEFA is now conducting further investigations," it said in a statement. "There are, however, no disciplinary proceedings open at this moment in time." European football's governing body has already said it was investigating claims from a racism monitoring group that the Czech Republic's Theodor Gebre Selassie was targetted by Russian fans during their opening Group A match on Friday. But Italy coach Cesare Prandelli on Monday rejected outright claims in a British newspaper that Spanish fans taunted Manchester City player Balotelli with monkey noises during the 1-1 draw in Gdansk, northern Poland. "That's absolutely untrue," the Azzurri coach said at a news conference on Monday. Balotelli, 21, has said that he would walk off the pitch if he were racially abused by fans.