Italian soccer player Mario Balotelli has been charged by the Football Association for an Instagram post which appeared to contain anti-Semitic and racist references.

The Liverpool striker reposted 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.”

Mario Balotelli, 24, tweeted to deny the post was offensive, before apologizing.

He has until 18:00 GMT on December 15 to respond to the charge.

A Liverpool spokesman said: “We acknowledge the FA’s decision and the player will work through the process to answer the charge.

“While that process is on-going the club will make no further comment.”

An FA statement read: “It is alleged the Liverpool player breached FA Rule E3[1] in that his posting was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper.

“It is further alleged that this is an <<Aggravated Breach>> as defined by FA Rule E3[2] as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or color and/or race and/or nationality and/or religion or belief.”

Mario Balotelli had until 18:00 on December 5 to submit an explanation for his comments to the FA and he reportedly provided evidence of the discrimination he has faced during his career.

The picture posted by the player had an image of Super Mario with the heading: “Don’t be a racist!”

The text read: “Be like Mario, he’s an Italian plumber, created by Japanese people, who speaks English and looks like a Mexican.”

“He jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew.”

After receiving criticism on Twitter for the image, Mario Balotelli tweeted: “My mom [sic] is Jewish so all of you shut up please.”

The player also described reposting the image as “my unlucky moment”.

Mario Balotelli later wrote: “I apologize if I’ve offended anyone.

“The post was meant to be anti-racist with humor. I now understand that out of context it may have the opposite effect.

“Not all Mexicans have a moustache, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money.

“I used a cartoon done by somebody else because it has Super Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, I’m sorry.”

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