Mario Balotelli Suspension Is Appropriate Punishment for Player and Club

Serie A made the right call on Mario Balotelli following his inexcusable outburst after AC Milan's 2-1 loss to Napoli last Sunday.

The mercurial striker was suspended three matches by the Italian league after being tossed from Sunday's match and directing threatening comments at the match official afterward, according to BBC Sport.

Considering the fact that Balotelli has a history of poor behavior on the pitch, there's no denying that the punishment fits the crime in this case. It's ultimately the player's responsibility to conduct himself in the appropriate manner before, during and after a match. But if he falls short, the onus has to fall on the club.

It's the duty of coach Massimiliano Allegri and the club's front office to get through to their star player. Therefore, suspending Balotelli and thus penalizing the club for three matches is the best possible punishment.

After all, it's been just five months since Balotelli was slapped with a three-game suspension following a similar series of events against Fiorentina, where the talented forward let his temper get the best of him. Balotelli had the suspension reduced to two games, but it's safe to say he didn't learn his lesson.

With his job on the line, Allegri is well aware of the consequences of Balotelli's actions by now, and spoke on the subject after hearing of the suspension, per BBC Sport: "Mario is 23 years old, he is no longer a child. Mario has made a mistake, penalizing the team, the club and the supporters, and he must change this behavior."

Allegri hit the nail on the head, but still must discover a way to help Balotelli keep his emotions in check.

Sure, Balotelli's passion, aggression and intensity are what make him such an entertaining player to watch. But when lines are routinely crossed, those traits become a detriment.

In fact, one could easily make the argument for a suspension greater than three matches this time around given Balotelli's troubling history and apparent lack of remorse. 

Either way, there can be no uproar in the wake of Balotelli's latest punishment. If Milan can bask in the star's glory when he's scoring goals and winning matches, the Italian powerhouse deserve to suffer when their leading man uses poor judgment. 

It's unknown whether Balotelli will change his ways following this latest incident. This isn't the first time his behavior has cost his club, and history tells us that while a three-match suspension may provide the Italian star with enough time to cool down, it's no guarantee that he won't disgrace the game again.

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