Mario Balotelli Accepts FA Charge over Controversial Instagram Post

Mario Balotelli has accepted the FA's charges regarding his controversial Instagram post. Balotelli has since been banned one match and fined for his actions.

Continue for updates.

Balotelli Banned One Match

Thursday, Dec. 18

The FA confirmed in a release that Mario Balotelli has been banned one match for his Instagram post:

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Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing today [Thursday 18 December 2014], 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.

(...)

Mr Balotelli has also been ordered to attend an education programme. 

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Balotelli Accepts FA Charge

Friday, Dec. 12

Ian Herbert of the Independent reports an update on Balotelli's charge:

Rob Harris of the Associated Press speculated about the potential punishment Balotelli may face: 

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Ballet Charged by FA

Friday, Dec. 5

The Football Association have charged Mario Balotelli over an Instagram Post he made that contained controversial content.

The charges were revealed in full in a statement on the FA's website:

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Mario Balotelli has been charged by The FA in relation to a recent posting on social media. 

It is alleged the Liverpool player breached FA Rule E3[1] in that his posting was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper.

It is further alleged that this is an ‘Aggravated Breach’ as defined by FA Rule E3[2] as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.

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Balotelli is being charged for this Instagram post (per 101 Great Goals):

After the post drew criticism, Balotelli apologized:

Liverpool issued their own statement on the back of the announcement from the FA, per James Pearce of the Liverpool Echo:

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We acknowledge the FA’s decision and the player will work through the process to answer the charge.

While that process is on-going the club will not be making any further comment.

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According to Dominic King of the Daily Mail, the striker made reference to his own experiences when he submitted his defence to the FA ahead of Friday’s deadline. But that seems to have been to no avail, and the forward now looks set for a substantial fine and possibly a ban too.

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The incident represents another unfortunate episode for the forward, who has struggled for form since his £16 million to Merseyside from AC Milan. It remains to be seen what stance Brendan Rodgers and indeed, the club’s higher-ups will take after the Italian’s latest faux pas, but incidents like this will do little to help Balotelli rediscover his form on the field.