Follow us at @WorldSportCNN and like us on Facebook
Story highlights
Mario Balotelli charged by English Football Association
Italian international issued apology on Twitter for reposting Instagram image
Has until 6pm on December 15 to respond to charge
Jewish Leadership Council chief executive labeled post 'offensive'
Why always him?
Mario Balotelli’s knack of attracting the wrong type of headlines shows no sign of abating after the enigmatic forward was charged by the English Football Association with racially stereotyping Jewish and black people in a social media post.
The FA is looking into Balotelli’s reposting of a Nintendo character Super Mario image that underneath had the words “jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a jew.”
“Mario Balotelli has been charged by The FA in relation to a recent posting on social media,” read the statement.
“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 color and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.
“The player has until 6pm on 15 December 2014 to respond to the charge.”
Balotelli quickly deleted the Instagram image, before tweeting: “My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please,” a reference to his foster mother, Silvia.
He apologized Tuesday on Twitter explaining the post “was meant to be anti-racist with humor.”
He added: “I now understand that out of context may have the opposite effect. Not all Mexicans have mustaches, 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.”
Liverpool said they plan to speak to Balotelli, who has missed the club’s last three games due to a groin injury he picked up on international duty in November.
“We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player,” said Liverpool in a statement.
However, former FA executive Simon Johnson called on the FA to punish the 24-year-old Balotelli.
“We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found,” Johnson, who is the current chief executive of the UK Jewish Leadership Council, told the Daily Telegraph.
“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.”
Playing iIn Italy, Balotelli frequently faced racist abuse in stadiums, while in September Merseyside police investigated racist remarks on Twitter made to Balotelli after he posted a message during Manchester United’s 5-3 defeat against Leicester City.
Balotelli has yet to score a Premier League goal since joining Liverpool from AC Milan in the summer transfer window, though he did find the net against Ludogorets in the Champions League as well as against Swansea in the English League Cup.
The minimum ban for race-related rule breaches is five games under the FA’s social media guidelines.
