Racial probe

International Sports

The Czech Republic's Theodor Gebre Selassie, left, takes on Yuri Zhirkov of Russia at the Municipal Stadium in Wroclaw. Photograph: Clive Mason/Getty Images.Uefa has widened investigations into alleged racial abuse directed at the Italy forward Mario Balotelli and the Czech Republic defender Theodor Gebre Selassie.

Uefa says it received new reports "regarding the two cases of alleged racist chanting" at Euro 2012.

A Spanish fans' group acknowledged on Monday that "about 200 supporters" had made monkey chants at Balotelli during the Spain-Italy match Sunday in Gdansk.

Uefa said on Tuesday that it will also seek evidence from Czech team officials about chants directed by Russian fans at Gebre Selassie in Wroclaw last Friday.

"Uefa is now conducting further investigations," the spokesman Rob Faulkner said. "There are however, no disciplinary proceedings opened at this moment in time."

Uefa pledged zero tolerance of racism at its showpiece tournament, but has stressed it needs clear evidence before prosecuting cases through its judicial bodies.

Gebre Selassie told AP that he was abused, but declined to file a complaint. "It was nothing extreme. I've experienced much worse," said the 25-year-old Czech-born player, whose father is Ethiopian.

Uefa rules make national federations responsible for their fans' behaviour. A first offence is likely to lead to just a financial penalty, though further punishments could include deducting group points from teams and ultimately expelling them from Euro 2012.

Italian officials also declined to make an issue of reports that abuse was targeted at Balotelli. Still, a Spanish group affiliated to the Football Supporters Europe network published a statement explaining that fans attempted to police the problem within their own ranks.

"At some point during the match, about 200 supporters started monkey chants when the Italian player Mario Balotelli touched the ball," Spain fans' spokesman Thomas Herzog said.

"We're glad to report that the majority of the Spanish supporters reacted in a very positive way, because many of them tried to intervene very quickly and stop the fans in question from singing. We are clearly angry about this small section of Spanish supporters showing this kind of racist behaviour."