Mario Balotelli Banned from Driving After Racing Ferrari at 109 mph

Balotelli claimed that posting an image of computer-game namesake Super Mario which included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew" was actually a botched attempt to convey an anti-racism message using humour. AP

LONDON: Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has been fined 800 pounds and banned from driving for 28 days after he admitted speeding at 109 mph in his Ferrari.

Balotelli was stopped in his Ferrari for driving at 109 mph early on December 3, 2014 on the M62 at Tarbock Island, Merseyside. The 24-year-old had been driving his 240,000 pounds left-hand drive Ferrari, reports espnfc.com.

The incident escalated after Balotelli failed to appear in court last week, though his solictor Mike Hogan on Friday said the Italian star never received a summons and was not intentionally ignoring the court.

Balotelli was also ordered to pay an 80 pound surcharge and 100 pounds in court costs. Hogan apologised on Balotelli's behalf but said the footballer has a clean driving record.