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Mario Balotelli gets suspended ban for insulting ref; Bastia punished for abuse

Nice's Mario Balotelli was handed a suspended ban on Thursday for insulting a referee, while Bastia were also punished for their fans' racist abuse aimed at the striker last month.

Balotelli received his third red card of the season last week after insulting Tony Chapron in English, the referee said.

The forward will be suspended for Nice's Ligue 1 encounter with Montpellier on Friday, and the Ligue de Football Professionnel (LFP) said he will receive a ban for an additional game for any further incidents.

Meanwhile, Bastia received a suspended one-point deduction and partial stadium closure for three games following alleged racist abuse aimed at Balotelli during the teams' 1-1 draw on Jan. 20.

The LFP had previously announced an investigation following Balotelli's complaints, while Bastia confirmed they had banned one of their supporters from Stade Armand-Cesari after he made himself known.

"Is it normal that Bastia supporters make monkey noise [and] 'uh' 'uh' for the whole game and no one of the 'commissions discipline' say nothing?" Balotelli wrote on Instagram after the game, referencing the French league's disciplinary committee.

"So is racism legal in France? Or only in Bastia? Football is an amazing sport. Those people like Bastia supporters make it horrible!"