NYON: Portuguese club FC Porto have been fined €20,000 by European federation UEFA because some of their fans racially abused Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli in February.

City complained  after Balotelli was subjected to monkey taunts during the first leg of their Europa League second round tie at the Estadio do Dragao on February 16.

Porto have three days to appeal against the verdict. There were outbreaks of monkey chanting throughout the game which City won 2-1 but it appeared most noticeable when Balotelli was substituted 12 minutes from time.

Porto coach Vitor Pereira later claimed there may have been a misunderstanding and that fans were actually chanting: “Hulk, Hulk, Hulk,” at his own club’s star player.

UEFA did not accept that excuse, stating: “The UEFA control and disciplinary body has imposed a fine of 20,000 euros on FC Porto for racist conduct of their supporters at their first-leg round of 32 UEFA Europa League match against Manchester City FC on 16 February in Porto.”

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