Soccer:Mario Balotelli was ruled out of Manchester City's Carling Cup semi-final with Liverpool this evening after accepting a violent conduct charge.
The English Football Association confirmed that City informed them they would not be challenging the four-match suspension, punishment for Balotelli’s apparent stamp on Tottenham’s Scott Parker at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
In addition to tonight’s game at Anfield, Balotelli will also miss the Premier League encounters with Everton, Fulham and Aston Villa.
However, the 21-year-old striker would be available for the Carling Cup final against Cardiff at Wembley on Sunday, February 26th should City overturn their one-goal deficit against Liverpool.
The FA confirmed the outcome shortly after tonight’s 6pm deadline to submit an appeal.
City assistant manager David Platt hinted at the course of action yesterday, although it is believed City officials debated long and hard about it today as they are still not entirely convinced referee Howard Webb failed to spot the original incident last weekend.
Even so, it would be a difficult case to argue given Webb states otherwise and there was a possibility the ban could be extended for a frivolous appeal.
It is unlikely to sit well with the Italian though. Yesterday, his agent Mino Raiola accused Webb of being a “coward” and added: “If the English don’t start to protect Mario a little bit more, we will have to look at other alternatives and leave the UK.”
