Mario Balotelli apologises over alleged anti-Semitic Instagram post as FA launch probe. Liverpool man could face five-match ban

Mario Balotelli apologises over alleged anti-Semitic Instagram post as FA launch probe. Liverpool man could face five-match ban Mario Ba... 12:05

Mario Balotelli apologises over alleged anti-Semitic Instagram post as FA launch probe. Liverpool man could face five-match ban

• Mario Balotelli re-posted an image on Instagram of Super Mario which included the words: 'Jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew'
• Liverpool striker then deleted the image
• He defended the post saying: 'My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please'
• But Italian returned to Twitter on Tuesday to say sorry for the image
• Balotelli insisted it was meant to be an 'anti-racist' message
• He also said: 'Not all Mexicans have moustache, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money' 
• Spokesperson for the FA says they are looking into the matter
• Balotelli could face a five-match ban if he is charged by the FA 

Mario Balotelli has apologised after an image he posted online led to the Liverpool striker becoming the subject of an FA investigation into alleged anti-Semitism.

The 24-year-old Italian re-posted an image to his Instagram account of the computer game character Super Mario which read: 'Don't be racist — be like Mario. He's an Italian plumber created by Japanese people who speaks English and looks like a Mexican.' At the bottom of the image the words continue: '... jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.' 

Balotelli insisted in his apology that the image was meant to be 'anti-racist with humour', but if he is charged by the FA he could face a five-match ban. The governing body have sought an explanation from Balotelli, who has until 6pm on Friday to respond.

VIDEO Scroll down to see Balotelli's latest TV advert

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Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli posted the image (left) on Instagram on Monday before swiftly deleting it

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Balotelli has not impressed at Liverpool since arriving this summer and is yet to score a Premier League goal

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Italian striker Balotelli posted a defence for the image on Monday night, saying his mother is Jewish

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Balotelli wrote this apology on Twitter on Tuesday morning, claiming his post was meant to be 'anti-racist'

More trouble for Mario? 

Balotelli’s alleged anti-Semitic Instagram post could see him face a claim from Nintendo for both copyright and trade mark infringement, says a leading law firm

Balotelli's post included a picture of Super Mario, which could land him in trouble with Nintendo, according to Irwin Mitchell.

'The use of Nintendo’s image for these purposes could get him into hot water for both copyright and trade mark infringement, especially given the content which could be said to bring Nintendo’s rights into disrepute or be denigrated,' said Georgie Collins of the London firm. 

Balotelli deleted the image on Monday night before denying he had made an offensive anti-Semitic reference. 'My Mom is Jewish so all of u shut up please,' he said on Twitter. He also described reposting the image as 'my Unlucky moment'.

On Tuesday morning Balotelli returned to social media to say sorry for his actions. He issued a statement again via Twitter saying: 'I apologise if I've offended anyone.'

'The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context may have the opposite effect.

'Not all Mexicans have moustache, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money. 

'I used a cartoon done by someone else because it has Super Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, I'm sorry.' 

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Balotelli was pictured wearing a jacket with a ripped design on a night out in Manchester on Sunday night

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Balotelli was spotted leaving The Milton Club in the city centre a day after Liverpool beat Stoke at Anfield

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Balotelli will miss Liverpool's match at Leicester City on Tuesday with a groin injury

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Balotelli has failed to win over many Liverpool fans due to his poor form since a £16m summer transfer

ANELKA BANNED FOR GESTURE 

Nicolas Anelka was banned for five matches and fined £80,000 by the FA in February of this year after making the controversial 'quenelle' gesture after scoring for West Brom against West Ham. The Frenchman denied that his 'inverted Nazi salute' was anti-Semitic. 

The FA is investigating and can take action if they believe Balotelli has 'bought the game into disrepute by making comments which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race'.

'We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player,' a Liverpool spokesman said. 'We will be speaking to the player about the issue.'

Balotelli had already on Monday deleted a photoshopped image of him being bitten in the arm by former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, in reference to the Uruguayan striker's ban for biting Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup in June.

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Balotelli's mocked up picture, pretending to show Luis Suarez's biting his arm, was also deleted on Monday

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The original picture was taken by a man wearing a USA shirt, and has been adapted by the Italian striker

Mario Balotelli does a turn levitating in new advert

Former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, Simon Johnson, believes Balotelli should be investigated.

He told the Daily Telegraph: 'We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found.

'We call upon the FA to investigate this offensive social media post and to take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking racism out of football.'

Balotelli's post comes after Rio Ferdinand was fined £45,000 in 2012 for his 'choc ice' tweet aimed at Ashley Cole after he gave evidence at John Terry's racism trial.

And just last month, Wigan owner Dave Whelan was charged by the FA for making comments about Jewish and Chinese people after the Championship club appointed Malky Mackay as their new boss.

Mackay himself is under investigation by the FA for sending racist, sexist and homophobic messages while he was the manager of Cardiff City.

Whelan told the Guardian he believed 'Jewish people chase money more than everybody else'.

Jewish representative group the Board of Deputies of British Jews has welcomed the FA's involvement.

'The Board of Deputies of British Jews is concerned by the racist meme shared by footballer Mario Balotelli on his Instagram account and welcomes the FA's probe into the matter,' said a statement.

'Footballers in particular have big followings of young people and should act responsibly when using social media.'

The board's president, Vivian Wineman, added: 'Balotelli's sharing of images which use unacceptable language and appeal to classic antisemitic tropes is troubling.

'We were pleased to see his immediate retraction and apology but such language has no place in public discourse. We welcome the decision by the FA to investigate this matter.'

MARIO'S MISDEMEANORS 

Sportsmail takes a look at some of Mario Balotelli's on and off-field incidents during his time in English football.

CAR CRASH (August 2010)

Just days after signing for City, Balotelli hits the headlines after crashing his Audi R8 en route to the club's training ground. Balotelli is found to be carrying £5,000 in cash at the time of the accident and when police ask why, he reportedly replies: 'Because I am rich.'

FIRST RED CARD (November 2010)

Balotelli scores his first Premier League goals in a 2-0 win at West Brom but the achievement is marred when he is sent off following a clash with Youssouf Mulumbu.

WILSHERE SNUB (December 2010)

City boss Roberto Mancini says Balotelli must change his attitude following his claims he had never heard of Jack Wilshere after beating the Arsenal midfielder to FIFA's Young Player of the Year award.

DART-THROWING INCIDENT (March 2011)

Balotelli again hits trouble after it emerges he threw a dart at a City youth team player. No one was hurt in the incident and he escapes punishment.

SECOND RED CARD (March 2011)

Balotelli apologises to his team-mates after he is sent off during a Europa League tie with Dynamo Kiev for a reckless challenge on Goran Popov.

BACK-HEEL BLUNDER (July 2011)

Balotelli is immediately substituted by an enraged Mancini after performing a pirouette and back-heeling wide when clean through on goal in a pre-season friendly against the Los Angeles Galaxy.

FIREWORKS AT HOME (October 2011) 

Ten firefighters used breathing apparatus as they put out a blaze at Balotelli's £7,500-a-month house in Mottram St Andrew, Cheshire, after fireworks were set off in a bathroom. The Italian was left with a repair bill of £400,000.

THIRD RED CARD (November 2011)

The third red card of Balotelli's City career arrives in a league match against Liverpool, the 21-year-old dismissed for two yellow cards.

BREAKING CURFEW (December 2011)

Balotelli breaks a club 48-hour curfew by visiting a curry house ahead of a match against Chelsea.

RICHARDS CLASH (December 2011)

Just days after Balotelli's curfew lapse, he again attracts negative headlines after pictures emerge of a training-ground bust-up with team-mate Micah Richards.

PARKER CLASH (January 2012)

Balotelli is charged with violent conduct by the Football Association, and subsequently handed a four-match ban, after appearing to stamp on the head of Tottenham's Scott Parker during a Premier League match.

INTER PRESS CONFERENCE (March 2012)

Balotelli gatecrashes the press conference to announce the appointment of Andrea Stramaccioni as Inter Milan's new coach.

FOURTH RED CARD (April 2012)

Balotelli is sent off for two bookable challenges on Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna. Also guilty of a shocking knee-high challenge on Gunners midfielder Alex Song.

CLASH WITH MANCINI (January 2013)

Balotelli clashes with Mancini during training with the pair pulled apart by coaches.