SSW/RACISM ON CNN

Mario Balotelli: Police probe racist abuse directed at Liverpool striker after tweet By John Sinnott, CNN September 22, 2014 -- Updated 1144 GMT (1944 HKT) Not for the first time in his career, Mario Balotelli finds himself at the center of a racist abuse storm... Not for the first time in his career, Mario Balotelli finds himself at the center of a racist abuse storm... HIDE CAPTION Police act on abuse STORY HIGHLIGHTS British police investigate abusive tweets sent to Mario Balotelli LIverpool striker sent "Man Utd...LOL" tweet after rivals beaten by Leicester City Tweet was retweeted 150,000 times Balotelli joined LIverpool from Milan in August (CNN) -- Racist abuse on social media shows no sign of diminishing in European football after British police launched an investigation into abusive tweets sent to Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli. The Italian international tweeted "Man Utd...LOL" on Sunday after Liverpool's rivals Mancheser United slumped to a surprise 5-3 defeat by Leicester City in the English Premier League, seemingly provoking a discriminatory response. "We can confirm officers are looking into offensive comments made on Twitter about Mario Balotelli," said Merseyside Police on their official Twitter feed. Mourinho on the enigma of Balotelli Balotelli: Racism makes me feel alone The 24-year-old Balotelli's tweet was retweeted 150,000 times and was met with a torrent of abuse. "We extend our support to Mario Balotelli after the appalling racist abuse directed at him on Twitter," said British anti-racism group Kick It Out. "A large number of social media users alerted us to the messages by tweeting our official account and we have since reported this via True Vision -- the police's online reporting facility. "During the 2013/14 season, 50% of all complaints submitted to us from across the game related to social media abuse," added the Kick It Out statement.