Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has issued an apology after an image he re-posted on Instagram on Monday led to accusations of racism and anti-Semitism.
Balotelli, 24, shared an image on Monday evening on the social networking site featuring the Nintendo character Mario that included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew."
The Italy international later deleted the post, describing it as an "unlucky moment," and added that his own adopted mother is Jewish in follow-up posts on Twitter.
A Liverpool spokesman told the Daily Telegraph: "We will be speaking to the player about the issue."
However, the FA confirmed to ESPN that it is investigating whether to charge Balotelli for bringing "the game into disrepute by making comments which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race."
The player himself tweeted an apology for his actions on Tuesday morning which read: "I apologize if I've offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that out of context may have had the opposite effect.
"Not all Mexicans have moustache, not all black people jump high and not all Jewish people love money. I used a cartoon done by someone else because it has Super Mario and I thought it was funny and not offensive. Again, I'm sorry."
I apologize if I've offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humour. I now understand that (...) pic.twitter.com/UlNeNlEz9M
- Mario Balotelli (@FinallyMario) December 2, 2014
In the wake of the initial post, former FA executive and current chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council Simon Johnson said Balotelli should face action.
"We abhor all forms of racism, wherever it is found," Johnson told the Daily Telegraph. "We call upon the FA to investigate this offensive social media post and to take action if appropriate if we are to succeed in kicking racism out of football."
In 2012, the FA charged then-Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand with improper conduct and fined him 45,000 pounds after he referred to Chelsea defender Ashley Cole as "choc-ice."
Under the FA's social media guidelines, the minimum ban for race-related breaches of rules is five games.