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Allegri: Italian football culture is "backward"

Allegri also criticised the interruption, during which warnings were broadcast to the fans over the public address system, as an unsuccessful compromise and said that forward Mario Balotelli was being increasingly taunted by racist abuse.

"People should go to the stadium to see two teams battling each other on the pitch, not this sort of thing, it's a place for the uncivilised," he told Milan's official website.

"Above all, the culture in Italy is backward.... tonight we had racism, laser beams flashed in the eyes of players and an interrupted match."

"Stopping the game doesn't work, it's a happy medium and like all happy mediums, it doesn't do anybody any good," said Allegri.

"Balotelli was defeated this evening, he gave everything, but he is 22 and subjected more and more to racist chants and that doesn't do him any good."

"Above all, Sulley has made a mistake but that is in the past," said Allegri. "The boy is mortified and has penalised us by leaving us with 10 men."

"We need to stay calm, prepare well and play the game in Siena," said Allegri, whose future is a constant subject of speculation.

"I have never thought that could be my last match on the Milan bench, because I'm the coach of this team and we have a target to reach."