Porto coach rejects Man City’s racism complaints

Manchester City's complaints that striker Mario Balotelli suffered racist abuse during their Europa League match in Portugal last week were probably the product of a misunderstanding, Porto coach Vitor Pereira said.

"I did not notice anything, it was probably a misunderstanding which will be clarified by the due authorities. We don't usually have racism-related problems in Portuguese stadiums," Pereira said at a news conference in Manchester on Tuesday ahead of the second leg.

European soccer's governing body UEFA announced a disciplinary hearing on Tuesday to investigate "improper conduct" by Porto supporters.

"I did not hear any comment which should force the club to apologise. What I often hear are the fans chanting for Hulk, which he, himself, can confirm," the coach added.

Burly Brazilian forward Hulk, the driving force of Porto's recent success, backed up his coach's remarks.

"I did not hear anything; when you are on the pitch you are only focused on the match. In every match we play at home I hear my name and that can cause some misunderstandings, but the fans are rooting for me," Hulk said.

City host Porto in the second leg of the Europa League round-of-32 match later on Wednesday.

British PM Cameron issues football racism warning

British Prime Minister David Cameron says the recent spate of racism scandals in English football should not ``drag us back to the bad old days of the past.''

The abuse against black players blighted the national game in the 1970s and '80s and was thought to have been widely eradicated.

Cameron, who will host a Downing Street summit on the issue, wrote in Wednesday's edition of The Sun that ``racism has come back into the spotlight.''

Liverpool forward Luis Suarez served an eight-match ban for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Chelsea captain John Terry is set to stand trial for allegedly racially abusing an opponent.

Cameron says that “we simply cannot brush this under the carpet ... the government stands ready to do anything it can to help.''

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