The Football Association are investigating Mario Balotelli after an image he reposted on Instagram on Monday led to accusations of racism and antisemitism, according to multiple reports.
An image featuring the Nintendo character Mario included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a jew" appeared on Balotelli Instagram's account and was later deleted.
An FA spokesperson told the Guardian the body is investigating whether to charge Balotelli for bringing "the game into disrepute by making comments which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race."
The Liverpool striker defended his action on Twitter, calling it an "unlucky moment":
I just know that Those are"trying"to"kill"me for my Unlucky moment they ll need to stick with their plan even when i ll be back scoring gols
- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 1, 2014
( my Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please)
- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 1, 2014
"We are aware of the posting which has since been promptly deleted by the player," a Liverpool spokesman told the Telegraph. "We will be speaking to the player about the issue."
Former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson said Balotelli should face action.
"We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found," Johnson told the Telegraph. "We call upon the FA to investigate this offensive social media post and to take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking racism out of football."
In 2012, the FA charged then-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand with improper conduct and fined him 45,000 pounds after he referred to Chelsea defender Ashley Cole as "choc-ice."
Under the FA's social media guidelines, the minimum ban for race-related breaches of rules is five games.