Controversial striker Mario Balotelli may stay with Liverpool until season end despite FA indictment

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is reportedly likely to stay with the club despite facing an indictment by the Football Association (FA) following his instagram post which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.

Speculations are rife that the Italian striker could be dismissed and allowed to leave the club next year after being hit with an FA charge. However, it has been learned that the club would show patience until the end of season, the Mirror reported.

Though the player has a behavior clause in his contract that allows the club to take disciplinary action against him, it doesn't extend to social media.

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

The Italian striker posted an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram, which included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew."

Balotelli has also been given time until 15 December to respond to the allegations.

Earlier, the Italian striker has apologized for the post, insisting that it 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.