“F****** French refs”: Mario Balotelli heard slamming Ligue 1 officials with expletive after getting booked

Mario Balotelli is set to find himself in hot water yet again after the Italian bad boy was caught ranting about the standard of referees in Ligue 1.

Striker Balotelli vented his anger as he returned to his dressing room after being booked during the first half of Nice’s 2-1 defeat to Marseille on Sunday.

The Italian, who had early given his side the lead, was shown a yellow card by Antony Gautier after he lunged at Bouna Sarr.

And TV microphones picked up Balotelli’s, off-screen, comments at the Stade Velodrome as he complained he was being targeted by officials.

“Every time, f****** French referees, every time,” Balotelli exclaimed in English, before repeating himself.

Former Manchester City star Balotelli may have played his last match if he is banned in the French league as he is out of contract at Nice at the end of the season.

Balotelli has already picked up nine bookings this season, and has also been sent off once.

He has scored 23 times this season in 34 appearances to help Nice reach seventh in Ligue 1 with two games to go.

Zlatan Ibrahimovic was given a four-game suspension in 2015 when described France as “a s***hole country” following a defeat at Bordeaux while he played for Paris Saint Germain.