FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — Police have had to intervene after Mario Balotelli was subjected to racist chants at Italy’s World Cup training base.

A few kids outside the Coverciano complex were responsible for the chants, and Balotelli appeared visibly disturbed.

The training session was open to media and Balotelli could be heard saying as he ran by reporters, “Only in Rome and Florence are they that stupid.”

While most of the fans cheered for Balotelli, police approached the area where the chants came from and they quickly ended.

Balotelli was born in Sicily to Ghanaian immigrants and brought up by an Italian foster family. He has faced racist chants throughout his professional career.

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