FA charge Balotelli with violent conduct

The FA has charged Manchester City’s Mario Balotelli with violent conduct after an incident against Tottenham on Sunday.

The 21-year-old’s injury-time penalty gave City a 3-2 win, but earlier he appeared to stamp on Scott Parker.

Balotelli faces a four-match ban following a dismissal earlier this season, but any unsuccessful appeal could result in a longer suspension.

Joleon Lescott will not be punished after a clash with Younes Kaboul.

Lescott caught Kaboul in the face with his forearm in a separate incident at the Etihad Stadium.

Balotelli, who has until Wednesday to respond to the charge, came on as a 65th-minute substitute against Spurs.

He was booked for a foul on Benoit Assou-Ekotto, but after escaping punishment from referee Howard Webb following his clash with Parker, the striker was fouled by Ledley King in the final minute of added time and converted the resulting penalty.

If he accepts his charge, Balotelli will miss Wednesday’s Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool at Anfield.

However, should the Italian international decide to appeal he will be available for that tie, with a hearing likely to take place later this week.

The normal punishment for violent conduct is a three-match suspension but Balotelli was sent off in the league match at Liverpool in November and would incur an additional one-game ban.