Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli to face FA investigation over 'racist' Instagram post

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has come under investigation by the Football Association (FA), following his instagram post which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.

The FA is investigating Mario Balotelli over this 'racist' Instagram post. pic.twitter.com/BN693N7VM6

— John Dingwall (@johndingwall) December 2, 2014

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.