Prandelli not to drop Balotelli

Italy head coach Cesare Prandelli has said he will not drop Mario Balotelli for their World Cup qualifiers against Denmark and Armenia.

Balotelli has been banned for three games for insulting match official and, according to Prandelli's "code of ethics", the Milan striker should be dropped from the national team until he has served his ban. But the Italy coach thought otherwise this time, reports Xinhua.

"Balotelli sat out his ban and paid for his actions," he said Wednesday. "So not calling him for Italy would be adding further punishment to the one he already had."

"Milan were exemplary in not appealing against the ban. Am I angry with Mario? Yes, like all those who care about him are," he said.

Italy have already qualified for the 2014 World Cup.

--Indo-Asia News Service

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