Mario Balotelli racially abused during Italy's training session for the FIFA World Cup

Mario Balotelli and Antonio Cassano during their training session

Italian striker, Mario Balotelli, has been racially abused in Florence, on Wednesday, during Italy’s pre-World Cup training session.

The Azzuris have been training at the Italian Football Federation’s headquarters in Coverciano, near Florence for next month’s World Cup in Brazil.

And the Milan striker, who has been a regular victim of racism, was called a ‘black piece of s***’ by a section of fans during his workout regime with rest of his team-mates.

The 23-year-old did not react to the situation but he reportedly told team-mates, “Unbelievable. Only in Rome and Florence do these things happen.”

It is also believed that the incident has drawn the local police’s attention.

Italy start their World Cup preparations against Republic of Ireland in a friendly at Craven Cottage on Saturday 31 May. They will kick off their campaign in Brazil on June 14 against England in Manaus.