Totti accused of racial abuse

ROME: Inter Milan forward Mario Balotelli has accused AS Roma captain Francesco Totti of racially abusing him.

Totti was sent off two minutes from time after kicking Balotelli in the calf during Inter's 1-0 victory over AS Roma to win the Italian Cup on Wednesday.

Totti said he had made a mistake but stopped short of apologizing to Balotelli. He said in an article on Friday in sports daily Corriere dello Sport that he was provoked and insulted by the 19-year-old throughout the match.

Balotelli's accusation was reported by Gazzetta dello Sport, which quoted Balotelli's agent Mino Raiola.

Balotelli, who is of Ghanaian descent, has often been the subject of racial taunts.