LONDON, AP:

Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli is banned from Sunday's match against Arsenal as punishment for posting racially offensive comments online.

The FA yesterday imposed the one-match ban and a fine of £25,000 ($39,000) while also ordering Balotelli to attend an education programme for the "aggravated breach" of its discrimination rules.

Balotelli uploaded on Instagram a picture of the video-game character Super Mario, with whom the Italy international shares a nickname, with text around the image including "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew".

The striker, who has been subjected to racial abuse on numerous occasions, posted the image of the computerised character with the heading "Don't be a racist".

"The FA decision has made clear it was wrong," Balotelli said in a statement on his Twitter page. "I am sorry that my teammates and supporters of Liverpool FC have to be penalised for something I did and now come to regret.

"It is my intention to comply with the decision of the FA and make sure it never happens again".