LONDON, May 30: Italy striker Mario Balotelli said he would “kill” anyone who threw a banana at him in the street during the European Championship in Poland and Ukraine next month.The volatile Manchester City player experienced racism during his time in Serie A and there are fears that black players could be subjected to it at the tournament.    

“I will not accept racism at all,” Balotelli, who was abused by Juventus and Roma fans while playing for Inter Milan in 2009, told France Football magazine.

“If someone throws a banana at me in the street, I will go to jail because I will kill them,” he added, referring to an incident in Rome when someone threw a banana at him in a bar.

“It was lucky the police arrived quickly because I swear, I would have beaten them. I would really have destroyed them.     I hope it never happens again.”

BBC television’s current affairs show Panorama highlighted possible racism in Ukraine and Poland this week in a programme entitled ‘Euro 2012: Stadiums of Hate’.

“Let’s see what happens at the Euros,” said Balotelli. “I hope it will pass without problem. I really couldn’t deal with that. If it happened I would walk off the pitch and return home.

“We are in 2012. It’s not possible.”

Both Poland and Ukraine have denounced the warnings about far-right gangs and racism, saying that the problem was widespread across Europe.—Reuters