Balotelli’s social media crisis: Arsene Wenger warns players

Following the trouble which Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli got himself into after an anti-Semitic and racist post on Instagram, Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger has said that players need to control themselves on social media.

Of players' activities on  social media, Wenger said: "We can only warn them of the potential dangers but you cannot control a player 24 hours a day," he said.

"They have to be responsible enough and educated to control what they say."

He added: "The danger of social media is that you can quickly not always imagine the consequences of what you say."

Balotelli has since apologized for the post which he also deleted. Although he had earlier tweeted to deny that the post was offensive.

The post was a picture of Nintendo computer game character Super Mario, with the heading, “Don’t be a racist!”. Balotelli forwarded on a picture produced by someone else.

Responding to criticism on Twitter, Balotelli had tweeted: "My Mom is Jewish so all of you shut up please."

His apology however reads:

"I apologise if I've offended anyone.

"The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context it may have the opposite effect.

"Not all Mexicans have a moustache, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money.  

"I used a cartoon done by somebody else because it has Super Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, I'm sorry."