Manchester City have informed the UEFA matchday delegate of their intention to complain about alleged racist abuse suffered by their players during the 2-1 Europa League victory over Porto, the club have confirmed.
Striker Mario Balotelli complained about being subjected to abuse first, with midfielder Yaya Toure backing up his claim, leading to City informing the delegate of their plans to complain.
Although manager Roberto Mancini did not hear the abuse, Balotelli has told a club official he heard abusive chanting during the game at the Estadio do Drago, which City won 2-1.
Reports circulated during the match that Balotelli and Toure were subjected to monkey noises.
But when asked about it, Mancini said: "I didn't hear this because I was concentrating on the game. I don't know if (it happened) to Mario and Yaya."
When asked if either player had mentioned it to him, he said: "No."
Toure, speaking to Sky Sports News, confirmed he had "heard something" from the stands.
"That's why we all like the Premier League, because it never happens there," he said. "Maybe in foreign countries they don't expect black players.
"I think in future it will be okay, they will change their minds and the game will become more open
"Football is football and the fans come to enjoy the game, and we don't want things like this to happen.
"Mario is now able to control things like this and that is very important for the club."
Balotelli told a club official he heard abusive chanting, leading to the complaint.
Otherwise, Mancini hailed his "fantastic" players after they came from behind to take the advantage after the first leg of the last-32 tie.
Sergio Aguero came off the bench to score the winner six minutes from time after an Alvaro Pereira own goal had cancelled out a Silvestre Varela strike.
Mancini said: "I think it was a good result because it is difficult to win here.
"I think we won this game because we played very well and didn't give more chances to score to them.
"I think the guys were fantastic."
Mancini was generally pleased with the performance of Balotelli, who had been playing his first game since serving a four-match domestic suspension for stamping on Tottenham's Scott Parker.
The City boss had spoken before the game of the importance of Balotelli remaining focused on the game ahead of a crucial period for the team.
He said: "I think Mario did very well, he played very well. He was calm and it is important he continues like this.
"I think this [provocation] can happen every game.
"For this reason I spoke with Mario before the game.
"I said, 'Mario think and play, think what you should do during the game. Forget other things.' I think only this is important."
Toure also had an influential role on his City return after missing eight games due to the African Nations Cup.
Mancini said: "I think Yaya is an important player for us but Yaya can't win alone. He needs all the other players.
"I think this evening all the team played well because, if not, it is impossible to win here.
"I don't know how many Porto have lost on this pitch. I think if you win here you should play well with all the team. If not, it is impossible."
Porto, last season's Europa League winners, went into the game boasting a formidable record.
The Portuguese champions have lost just one league game this season and had not been beaten at home in a major competition.
Mancini said: "I think we are 60% to go to the next stage but we know we play always against Porto.
"Porto is a top team, a top squad.
"It will also be a difficult game in Manchester. We should keep the same concentration we had tonight."
Porto coach Vitor Pereira said: "We scored a good goal but in the second half City started better and scored their equaliser.
"They created a lot of difficulties for us.
"They played very well on the counter-attack and scored the second goal."
Porto 1 Manchester City 2 Tweet
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El Kun was a Portuguese man of war for the day: Big sting.
No team spirit eh .... Just look at that picture !
Apart from the goal I don't think Porto had any chances to score so defensively a sound performance from the boys.
Great team effort. Team spirit is there in abundance. Let a 'no one' damage it! Lets kick on from here in the Prem too!
Niggling fouls from both teams, sloppy passing, few chances. Cards galore, but were there any that you could complain about? Probably not. Watched the game in Montreal with some Porto fans. They had no complaints about the score but agreed it was a poor game. Good to see Yaya back.
City need to improve in Europe next season, and a good run in the Europa League will be a good learning experience about how to concentrate for the WHOLE game and take the chances when they come. For a while it looked like a rerun of the Napoli game. Come on City, tighten up and concentrate.
It feels good, lovely result, lucky one with Balotelli & good teams are lucky :-)
Trigger happy judge, gives some silly bookings and nothing we can do with that.
I have stored away one bottle of vintage PORT, please do the job at home so I can justify to open it :-) please .... :-)
C'mon City CTID
Well played lads,let them burn themselves out in the first half and then attack in the second when they were knackered.Like the pundits said could they keep pressing and not giving city time on the ball?I guess not, Can not wait for the home game now wont be easy but should be more open now there chasing the game.ctid
Don't get me angry
I will start diving
when i am angry
unacceptable
Mario keep ur head up my man, we are all with you brother
Shows the mentality of some supporters when they use racist remarks or actions to players or other fans. Most team now have black or Asian players & fans.Kick these so called fans out of football for good. I don't want them sat next to me.
Super team performance from all, Lescott, Toure magic please finish it off next week. Porto were very good.
i always find it curious when opposing fans abuse their opponents black players, when they have lots of black players themselves. how do they think it makes their own players feel? and do you not think those players would find it uncomfortable playing for a team whose fans hurl racist abuse at other players. what morons they are!
Ugly side of international football!!!!
Makes you appreciate how much English football has ascended out of the dark ages.
Must be strange for Porto's black players to hear their own fans racially abusing?
Lets see what UEFA do about this abuse if it had been our fans doIng it UEFA would have thrown the book at us this morning. If proved Porto should be severly punished we dont need it and dont want it in our game
I can understand why a fan, like me, doesnt like the 2 players, because they dont play in a red shirt ;) But to judge them based on the colour of their skin is just stupid. Judge them on their behavour (oh shit, Balotelli).
Cue at most a slap on the wrist for Porto and the vile minority of fans who behave like this. Just imagine (God forbid!) if City supporters were to behave like this. We'd probably be kicked out of the competition.
In these situations it is for City to continue and respond by beating the club with small mindless idiots in the stand on the pitch. City did this on the pitch and left the rest to the officials of the club. This demonstrates a steely determination.
For there to be even a hint of abuse from the stand there has to be culture within a club that turns a blind eye. Stewards at the Etihad would have dealt with this ASAP, with the police being involved too if needed. These things don't just suddenly manifest themselves. If it is true then a heavy penalty should be levied on Porto, because if this was an English club the penalty would be huge!
But city did their talking on the pitch and finally stamped their true European credentials.
CTID
Ooooh no, let the fools alone, i want us to play sheer football and not make profit from Platini's rules like Utd,
"That's why we all like the Premier League, because it never happens there,"
No, Yaya. You like the PL because you're paid much more than you're worth to play here.
And it does happen here; Luis Suarez is the high profile example, then an LFC fan is on bail for making monkey gestures.
A quite ridiculous statement from Yaya Toure, then.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh, Bliss, 2nd half was much better.Long may it continue
CTID