Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is now the subject of an investigation by the Football Association (FA) following an image he posted featuring Nintendo’s Mario surrounded with racist and anti-Semitic statements.
Balotelli, who has used the nickname “Super Mario” on a number of occasions in the past, posted the internet meme on his Instagram profile, but the controversial 24-year-old Italian footballer already attracted the attention of the FA before he removed the image.
“We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player,” a Liverpool F.C. spokesperson told the BBC. “We will be speaking to the player about the issue.”
Balotelli, however, took to social networking site Twitter to dismiss that the picture was intentionally posted to cause any serious offence — and certainly not improving his current predicament with the FA, I might add — as he tweeted: “My Mom is Jewish so all of you shut up please.”
( my Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please)
— Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 1, 2014
According to the BBC, the Italian striker could face a five-match ban from footballing competitions due to his Instagram photo, as it breaches the terms and conditions of FA’s social media guidelines.
Thanks to a screenshot by the LFC Fans Corner Twitter account, the image Balotelli posted can be found below.
Balotelli on Instagram. pic.twitter.com/VAcSxgmBWL
— LFC Fans Corner (@LFCFansCorner) December 1, 2014
Featured image credit: Calcio Mercato on Flickr.