Back in 2008, Silvio Berlusconi - then Prime Minister of Italy - joked that US President-elect Barack Obama was "young, handsome and also tanned". It was a comment which sparked outrage by opposition politicians back in Italy.
While making a speech at the AC Milan training ground over the weekend, to celebrate his 30 years as owner of the club, Berlusconi attempted to make a similar joke - this time Mario Balotelli was the subject.
Berlusconi quipped that Balotelli has 'taken too much sun'. Obviously, as with his comment about Obama, the 79-year-old's words have been taken as racist.
My dream is to have an all-Italian Milan. We’ve got many young Italians here at the moment. That includes Balotelli, who has taken too much sun, but is still Italian.
I’d gladly cut off his hair, though. I’ve seen him take some extraordinary shots in training and his ball control is exceptional. I always tell him he doesn’t take the right position. I ask him why are you always playing in our half?
Picture credit: Pat Murphy / SPORTSFILE
