What on earth did Mario Balotelli say to earn him a straight red card?
It should be pointed out, at the very start of this article, that it’s been written immediately after Balotelli was sent off for Nice against Lorient on Saturday night so more information about his red card ought to become apparent after the final whistle.
The controversial forward must have uttered something awful to the referee in charge of the game because the foul that led to the free kick was so very innocuous that it wouldn’t have warranted even a yellow in any match official’s estimation.
Balotelli was holding off Lorient midfielder Zargo Toure during the Ligue 1 meeting when the referee blew for a free. That all seemed fair enough.
Straight red card for Balotelli. Nothing conclusive on this evidence pic.twitter.com/XzVN0h4OiB
— Patrick Kendrick (@patrickendrick) February 18, 2017
But as Balotelli made his way away from the utterly unremarkable incident, he clearly mouthed something in the direction of the official.
A red card was flashed in the direction of the former Manchester City and Liverpool striker, whose lack of reaction would lead you to believe that there was some justification for the sending off.
However that didn’t do anything to stop the confusion online about Balotelli’s third red of the season.
https://twitter.com/Posevic/status/833051060398915584
Balotelli got sent off for… I have no idea. Barely a free kick. Did he say something or
— Bobby Muad’Dobalina (@Linhem) February 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/s0nicfan74/status/833050130945343489
https://twitter.com/OOTB_football/status/833050101622960132
Balotelli has been absolutely victimised there, got to feel sorry for him. Can't catch a break. On no pitch on this planet is that a red.
— Ryan Luke (@RyanLuke91) February 18, 2017
https://twitter.com/_RainbowWarrior/status/833051202090840065
