• Premier League

City unlikely to appeal Balotelli charge

ESPN staff
January 24, 2012
Mario Balotelli is facing a four-game ban © PA Photos
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Manchester City appear set to accept Mario Balotelli's FA charge for violent conduct after David Platt alluded to the dangers of a frivolous appeal on Tuesday.

Balotelli faces a potential four-match ban after the FA took retrospective action following City's 3-2 win over Tottenham at the weekend. The Italian striker was accused by Spurs boss Harry Redknapp of stamping on Scott Parker, an incident not acted upon at the time by referee Howard Webb.

Due to previous disciplinary problems this season Balotelli is expected to receive a four-game suspension, although if City choose to appeal it would make him available for Wednesday's Carling Cup semi-final second leg against Liverpool.

Platt insists the club's decision will not be based on that Anfield fixture, and he appeared to hint that the club fear the prospect of the FA extending the ban if their appeal is deemed frivolous.

"We are likely to be without a player for four games. We found out the information last night and we have not sat down as a group to discuss it," Platt said.

"But I don't think anybody thought we would win an appeal with Vincent Kompany, even though the majority of people didn't feel he deserved a red card or a four-match ban. It shows the futility of an appeal sometimes. This looks poor when you slow it down.

"We have to look at it from 360 degrees, you cannot look at it from what you think. Because what you think as a football club has no relevance whatsoever.

"You have to take everything into consideration and there are a lot more things to consider if you want to go for an appeal because there is a sanction in place that they can further the ban if they want to if they consider it to be a frivolous appeal.

"I think it's futile, we can't allow it to take away the focus from tomorrow night."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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