Balotelli apologizes over 'racist' Instagram post

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has apologised for his instagram post which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist reference.

Balotelli said that the post was meant to be anti-racist with humour and that now he understands it could have the opposite effect if said in out of context.

He has come under an investigation by the Football Association (FA), following his instagram post.

Though the Italian striker has denied that the post was offensive, asking critics to shut up as his mother is a Jewish herself, FA has confirmed it was looking into the issue.

A club spokesman said that they are aware of the instagram posting made by the striker and would be speaking to the player, who deleted the post promptly, about the issue.

Meanwhile, former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson has called upon FA to inquire into the offensive social media post, adding that appropriate actions should be taken against the player in order to drive away racism out of football, the BBC reported.

Johnson further said that they abhor all forms of racism wherever it is found.

Under the FA's social media guidelines, a player could face a minimum ban of five games for race-related breaches of rules.