Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has accepted a Football Association charge for a post he made on Instagram.
The Italian was charged by the English FA for an alleged anti-Semitic and racist post he sent on social media Instagram.
Balotelli, 24, has written in mitigation to the FA and has not requested a personal hearing. Liverpool hope his explanation could see him end up with a fine, rather than ban.
Balotello reposted an image of Nintendo game character Super Mario on his Instagram page, with the heading: “Don’t be a racist.”
Its accompanying texts read: “Be like Mario, he’s an Italian plumber, created by Japanese people, who speak English and looks like a Mexican.
It concluded: “He jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.”
The Azurri forward later tweeted to deny the post was offensive, before apologizing.
Balotelli has not featured for the Merseyside club since last month’s international break owing to a groin injury but could return to their squad for Sunday’s Premier League clash with Manchester United at Old Trafford.
He has scored twice in 14 appearances in all competitions since his £16m move from AC Milan in the summer and has yet to score a league goal.
The young man should rebuild his football career, concentrate on it and steer clear off controversy which ruins many promising stars.