Police Investigating Mario Balotelli Racist Abuse

Racist abuse directed at Liverpool's Mario Balotelli on Twitter is being investigated by police.

The striker received a string of racist messages after he reacted to Manchester United's shock 5-3 defeat at Leicester City by posting: "Man Utd...LOL."

Merseyside Police have used the site to confirm they are looking into the messages.

"We can confirm officers are looking into offensive comments made on Twitter about Mario Balotelli earlier today," read a tweet from the force's official account.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "As far as I am aware there have been no complaints, but we have been made aware of it by a number of press inquiries."

A Liverpool FC spokesman told Sky News: "We are not making any comment at this time while a police investigation is under way. We will allow the police to do their work before saying anything on the matter."

Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright expressed his shock at the abuse by tweeting: "Cannot believe the abuse @FinallyMario took ! In this day and age. Over a comment about a game of football. Disgraceful."

Anti-discrimination body Kick It Out contacted police after being alerted to the abuse by other users of social media.

A spokesperson said: "We extend our support to Mario Balotelli after the appalling racist abuse directed at him on Twitter earlier today.

"A large number of social media users alerted us to the messages by tweeting our official account and we have since reported this via True Vision - the Police's online reporting facility.

"During the 2013/14 season, 50% of all complaints submitted to us from across the game related to social media abuse."

Kick It Out reported a 269% increase in incidents on the previous season during the 2013-14 season, half of them (142) involving social media.

The former Inter Milan, Manchester City and AC Milan player has been singled out for racist abuse in the past.

He was heckled by Italian supporters at a pre-World Cup training camp earlier this year and was on the receiving end of numerous instances of racist abuse during his time in Italy.

Balotelli spoke about the abuse in an interview with GQ earlier this summer.

"They aren't used to seeing people who are different, not white, who act not as rebels but normally," he said.

"I think what the ignorant people don't like is that people who are different are allowed to act that way.

"These stupid people, they get angry with me, they say horrible things, but I haven't done anything different from other people."