Brescia insist Massimo Cellino's controversial 'black' remark about Mario Balotelli was just wordplay as the President refuses to apologise.
Cellino claimed Balotelli was “feeling gloomy” when asked about the striker after he was dropped for Brescia's 3-0 defeat to Roma on Sunday.
However, the Sardinian's use of the word ‘nero’, which can be translated to 'black' as well as 'gloomy', sparked controversy.
Brescia insist Massimo Cellino's controversial 'black' remark about Mario Balotelli was just wordplay as the President refuses to apologise.
Cellino claimed Balotelli was “feeling gloomy” when asked about the striker after he was dropped for Brescia's 3-0 defeat to Roma on Sunday.
However, the Sardinian's use of the word ‘nero’, which can be translated to 'black' as well as 'gloomy', sparked controversy.
The club has since released a statement claiming that Cellino was only "joking" and had sought to "protect the player".
“Concerning the comments made this afternoon by President Massimo Cellino, referring to our player Mario Balotelli, Brescia Calcio state that it was a joke, where the paradox was clear," it read.
"[It was] blatanly misunderstood and made in an attempt to defuse the media exposure and protect the player.”
ANSA then pressed Cellino on whether he stood by his remarks.
“If you write all the rubbish I say, I’ll tell you not to stop writing,” he told the news agency.
“I don’t have to clear my name with regards to something I don’t believe in.
“Do you know what the tragic thing is? You [journalists] don’t know what the hell to write.
“If I clarify to those who have asked me to make clarifications, I’ll do even more damage. Good people know me.”
It is also possible the 63-year-old was trying to say 'inc***ato nero', which is a common expletive in italian.