Liverpool's Balotelli apologizes for anti-Semitic Instagram post
Mario Balotelli has apologized for his post on social media which provoked claims of racism and anti-Semitism, with the Liverpool striker saying his intention was to be "anti-racist with humor."
The Italy international reposted an image from the computer game 'Super Mario' on his Instagram page which included the comment "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew."
The image of Super Mario - with whom Balotelli shares a nickname - appeared with the heading "Don't be a racist." The text then read: "Be like Mario. He's an Italian plumber, created by Japanese people, who speaks English and looks like a Mexican," before the final line, which has caused the controversy.
Balotelli quickly deleted the post, but it soon spread on the internet. The 24-year-old, who has been a frequent victim of racism himself, responded on his Twitter account by writing: "My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please". He also described reposting the image as "my Unlucky moment."
Balotelli returned to Twitter on Tuesday morning to issue an apology to anybody who took offense at his comments.
He wrote: "I apologize if I've offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humor. 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."
Balotelli has been contacted by the Football Association to ask for his observations about the post, which comes three years after former Liverpool striker Luis Suarez, who left Anfield for Barcelona this summer, was banned for eight matches for racially abusing Manchester United defender Patrice Evra.
Former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson said Balotelli should face action.
"We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found," Johnson 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."
Under the FA's social media guidelines, the minimum ban for race-related breaches of rules is five games.
Balotelli's comments come just days after Wigan chairman Dave Whelan was charged by the FA for an aggravated breach of its rules following his comments about Jewish and Chinese people.
Whelan was charged over remarks he allegedly made in response to criticism of the club's decision to appoint Malky Mackay as their new manager.
The 77-year-old publicly apologized for comments attributed to him in The Guardian and strongly denied making any racist jibes, while also suggesting he was misquoted.
