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British soccer player Mario Balotelli, who grew up the foster son of a Jewish mother, apologized for a racist and anti-Semitic post on his Instagram page.

Balotelli apologized on Tuesday on Twitter for the post, which features a photo of Nintendo computer game character Super Mario and reads, in part, that the character “jumps like a Black man and grabs coins like a Jew.”

Balotelli, 24, the son of immigrants from Ghana, who plays for the Liverpool soccer team, is nicknamed Super Mario.

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The player also was notified that he is being investigated by Britain’s Football Association, under the governing body’s strict anti-racism rules. He has until Friday to offer his explanation of the use of the post.

Balotelli’s apology tweeted Tuesday said, in part: “I apologize if I’ve offended anyone. The post was meant to be anti-racist with humor. I now understand that out of context it may have the opposite effect.

The rest of the Super Mario post reads: “Don’t be racist. Be like Mario. He’s an Italian plumber, created by Japanese people, who speaks English and looks like a Mexican.”

On Monday, following criticism of the post, Balotelli responded with a tweet that said: “My Mom is jewish so all of u shut up please,”

Jewish leaders in Britain criticized the Super Mario post as anti-Semitic and racist.

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