ENGLISH PREMIER LEAGUEMARIO BALOTELLI could miss the English League Cup semi-final and three league games for Manchester City after he was charged with violent conduct for kicking Scott Parker on the head during Sunday's 3-2 win over Tottenham Hotspur.
The Italian striker, who Harry Redknapp insisted should not have been on the pitch to convert the stoppage-time penalty that defeated Spurs, was charged yesterday evening once the Football Association had considered the referee Howard Webb’s official match report.
Webb has confirmed he missed the 83rd-minute incident at the Etihad Stadium and would have shown Balotelli a straight red card had he spotted the City substitute appearing to aim a backheel at Parker as the Tottenham midfielder lay on the floor.
Balotelli has until 6pm tomorrow to respond. Should the 21-year-old accept the FA charge he will automatically serve a four-match suspension having already been dismissed once this season, for two bookable offences in the Premier League draw at Liverpool in November. That would rule him out of tomorrow’s League Cup semi-final second leg at Anfield, where City must overcome a 1-0 first leg deficit to reach Wembley, and league games against Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa.
The Italy international could contest the charge, which would leave him free to face Liverpool and result in a disciplinary hearing this week. However, that would also bring the risk of an extra game’s suspension for a frivolous appeal and threaten Balotelli’s involvement in the League Cup final should Roberto Mancini’s team progress. The Premier League leaders have yet to decide with Balotelli what course to take.
Redknapp insisted the FA had no option but to review Balotelli’s alleged stamp on Parker after Sunday’s enthralling game, when he also claimed Mancini needed to deal with the striker’s disciplinary problems. “It’s not the first time he’s done that, is it?” the Tottenham manager said. “I’m sure it won’t be the last.”
Mancini, who has yet to comment on the incident with Parker, admitted after Balotelli’s dismissal at Anfield that he could not completely trust the forward to steer clear of trouble and would consider leaving him out of key games.
Losing Balotelli for four matches would represent a major setback for the City manager, however. With Carlos Tevez absent in Argentina and seemingly on his way out of the club, Mancini will have only two established strikers, Sergio Aguero and the out-of-form Edin Dzeko, available over the coming weeks should Balotelli accept the FA charge or lose an appeal.
City will be without their suspended captain, Vincent Kompany, for the semi-final, a four-match punishment that caused consternation at the club, and have Yaya and Kolo Toure away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Balotelli has been sent off three times since joining City from Internazionale and been involved in several off-field incidents but team-mates were quick to defend the striker after Sunday’s victory over Spurs. The Argentina international Aguero said: “Firstly we all know what a fantastic player he is. Everyone has their own path. But those of us who are really close to Mario know that off the field he’s a really good lad.”
The FA confirmed that no action will be brought against City’s centre-back Joleon Lescott for catching the Spurs defender Younes Kaboul with a flailing arm during Sunday’s game.
Guardian Service
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