MILAN, Italy, April 8- The Milan striker Mario Balotelli was caught smoking in the toilet on a train during the team’s journey to Florence to face Fiorentina and will be fined, the club’s chief executive, Adriano Galliani, said on Sunday.
Balotelli was told off by the train guard, who told Galliani: “You need to pull his ears. He was smoking in the bathroom,” Gazzetta dello Sport reported.
Smoking is banned on Italian trains. “I want to say that we’re going to fine him,” Galliani said.
Balotelli has scored seven goals in eight appearances and has managed to stay out of trouble since joining in January from Manchester City, where he was involved in a series of rows with the club’s manager, Roberto Mancini.
Milan squandered a two-goal lead against a 10-man Fiorentina and drew 2-2 after conceding two penalties.
Balotelli threw a tantrum at the end after he was involved in an altercation with Fiorentina’s goalkeeper, Emiliano Viviano.
He stormed into the tunnel gesticulating angrily, although it was not clear what had upset him.
Earlier, the 22-year-old Italian had been booked for failing to retreat at a free-kick and he will miss next week’s Serie A match at home to Napoli, direct rivals in the race for a place in the Champions League, for accumulated yellow cards.
He was lucky not to be sent off for a late challenge on David Pizarro in the closing minutes.
– The Guardian
