The wrong type of grass
The sizeable cranium of Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has regularly been up for discussion during his short spell at the club, but never more so than last night as his swollen bonce forced him off the pitch during his side’s Europa League defeat to Dynamo Kiev.
The young Italian seemingly suffers from an allergy to certain types of grass and was afflicted by the problem during yesterday’s match.
Balotelli had initially missed the start of the second half by more than a minute after complaining of the allergy shortly before the restart.
City boss Roberto Mancini said: “Mario had an allergy, I don’t know what, his face was swollen, I don’t know why. He wanted to play in the second half but he had this problem 10 seconds before coming out.
“I came out a minute before the players and I didn’t see Mario. He then said he could play but his face was swollen.”
A distracted Balotelli disrupted play with persistent whining and scratching until he was replaced by Carlos Tevez in the 57th minute.
City lost the match 2-0 in the first-leg of their last-16 tie.
