Posted On Sunday, 7th April 2013
Mario Balotelli
Controversial AC Milan striker of Ghanaian descent Mario Balotelli is set to be fined by the Italian club after the striker was caught smoking in a train toilet.
Balotelli was travelling with his AC Milan on Saturday to Florence for Sunday’s Serie A match against Fiorentina when he angered a train controller by smoking in the toilets.
“You have to twist Balotelli’s ear, he was smoking in the toilets,” said the train controller told AC Milan vice president when Adriano Galliani.
“That means we’ll fine him,” said Galliani before enlisting the help of Balotelli’s friend and team-mate M’Baye Niang.
“Niang, you’re a good young lad, go and tell your friend Mario that he’s earned himself a fine.”
Smoking on trains is prohibited by Italian law similar to smoking on aeroplanes.
The striker has been hitting the headlines for all the wrong reasons since hitting the limelight but escalated following his move from Inter Milan to Manchester City.
Balotelli was regularly snapped by photographers with a cigarette in hand and is more often in the headlines for mischief and disobedience.
His latest indiscretion comes two months after he received two traffic fines for driving without the relevant insurance documents.
He was infamous at Manchester City for his ability to collect speeding fines, and has also been penalised for a succession incidents on and off the field.
During his City days he was caught throwing darts at a youth team player whilst he had training ground bust-ups with four different teammates and manager Roberto Mancini.
In December he took City to a tribunal after being fined two weeks wages, although he later withdrew his complaint.
Off the pitch he set his bathroom on fire after lighting fireworks in his home.