By JOHN DRAYTON
Mario Balotelli has edged himself closer to the Manchester City exit door after deciding to take the club to a tribunal in a bid to overturn a £340,000 fine.
The controversial Italian striker was docked two weeks wages after a string of breaches of discipline.
And Balotelli will appear before an independent two-man panel in London on Wednesday.
The 22-year-old insists the fine was undeserved and is prepared to risk paying the five-figure cost of the hearing should he lose.
Having already appealed unsuccessfully to the club, Balotelli felt he had no option but to take further action.
But his latest move is likely to alienate him even further at the Etihad Stadium with even long-time supporter Roberto Mancini beginning to have doubts.
The City boss dropped Balotelli from his squad to face Newcastle yesterday and revealed: ‘He was at home only because he needs to work.’
That followed the fall-out from the Manchester derby last weekend when the former Inter Milan player stormed down the tunnel after being replaced by Carlos Tevez in the second half.
