Mario escapes lengthy ban

Mario Balotelli could yet have a final say in Manchester City's season after avoiding an extended ban for his wild challenge on Arsenal's Alex Song.

The controversial striker, who is serving a three-match suspension for his sending-off in Sunday’s defeat at the Emirates Stadium, could have been hit with a further six-game punishment for his separate studs-up challenge on Song.

That clash went unpunished by referee Martin Atkinson at the time but the Football Association have said they cannot take retrospective action because it was seen by at least one of the four match officials.

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