Liverpool
striker Mario Balotelli has been suspended for one match, fined £25,000
($39,176) and ordered to attend to an education course after making racist and
antisemitic comments.
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,” he wrote on Twitter.
“I am sorry that my
team-mates and supporters of Liverpool FC 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.”
Following the recent events related to my “Super Mario” post, the FA decision has made clear that it was wrong… pic.twitter.com/hHgJTcAAfK
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 18, 2014
