If there's controversy involved in European soccer, you can be sure that Mario Balotelli's name is never far from the headlines. Recently, Balotelli has been plastered all over newspapers from Manchester to Milan due to his antics on and off the pitch. However, sometimes it really isn't his fault. Look to a recent press conference held by Paolo Berlusconi, younger brother of AC Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi, where he used a few choice words to describe Super Mario that can only be viewed as racism. Racism has been prevalent throughout European soccer history, and despite recent campaigns to try and eradicate the game of such offenses, many players past and present are wondering if the game will ever really be clean.
What's the old adage, if we don't learn from the past we are doomed to repeat it? Well, we'll do our part. From Paolo Berlusconi's ill-guided comments, to the insanity of Zenit St. Petersburg supporters, we present A History of the Most Racist Moments in Recent European Soccer.
Written by Adam Silvers (@silversurfer103)