Mario Balotelli given one match ban over racist post
20 Dec 2014 12:51 AM GMT
Balotelli had already accepted a charge of an aggravated breach of Football Association rule E3, relating to references of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality or religion or belief, after his posting of an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram which included the words “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew”. The Italy international did not request a personal hearing, but submitted written mitigation to an independent disciplinary panel, who handed out the punishment on Thursday.
Balotelli will now miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield after deciding against an appeal. “Following the recent events related to my ‘Super Mario’ post, the FA decision has made clear that it was wrong. I am sorry my teammates and supporters of Liverpool have to be penalised for something I did and now come to regret. It is my intention to comply with the decision of the FA and make sure it never happens again,” Balotelli wrote on Twitter.
“The club acknowledges the decision reached by the independent panel and due consideration will be given to the written judgement once we receive it from FA,” a club spokesman said.
Balotelli will now miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield after deciding against an appeal. “Following the recent events related to my ‘Super Mario’ post, the FA decision has made clear that it was wrong. I am sorry my teammates and supporters of Liverpool have to be penalised for something I did and now come to regret. It is my intention to comply with the decision of the FA and make sure it never happens again,” Balotelli wrote on Twitter.
“The club acknowledges the decision reached by the independent panel and due consideration will be given to the written judgement once we receive it from FA,” a club spokesman said.
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