Mario Balotelli fined over train toilet smoking

FORMER Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli, famed for his antics whilst playing in England, has hit the headlines in Italy again - after being caught smoking in a train toilet.

Balotelli and his team-mates were travelling to Florence to take on Fiorentina on Sunday, when the train guard alerted the club’s chief executive Adriano Galliani to the striker’s rule-breaking.

Smoking is banned on all Italian trains, with Balotelli’s actions earning him a dressing down from the guard.

According to Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport, Galliani was informed: “You need to pull [Balotelli’s] ears. He was smoking in the bathroom.”

Galliani confirmed that the club would fine Balotelli over the incident.

The 22-year-old has scored seven goals in eight games for Milan, and has largely avoided trouble since he arrived in January from Manchester City, where he was caught up in a series of high-profile rows with manager Roberto Mancini.