Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli breached Football Association (FA) rule E3(1). Hence, he has been suspended for one match, fined £25 000 and ordered to attend to an education course.
Balotelli breached FA’s rule by making racist and abusive comments on social media.
He posted an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram with caption: “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew”.
He deleted his post a day after and wrote on Twitter: “I apologise if I’ve offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context (it) may have the opposite effect.”
But, that didn’t affect the verdict.
The statement released by FA read: “Following an independent regulatory commission hearing today Mario Balotelli has been fined £25 000, suspended for one-match with immediate effect, subject to any appeal, and warned as to his future conduct after he admitted breaching FA rules in relation to social media.
“The charge was that an image the Liverpool player posted on social media was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to FA rule E3(1).
“Furthermore, the posting was considered to be an “aggravated breach” as defined in FA rule E3(2) in that it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.
“Mr Balotelli has also been ordered to attend an education programme.”
Balotelli will now miss Sunday’s Premier League clash with Arsenal at Anfield.