Mancini happy Balotelli retracts attempt to overturn fine

MANCHESTER, United Kingdom (AFP) - Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini on Friday said that he believed Mario Balotelli "respected himself" when he climbed down in his attempts to overturn a club fine.

Italy striker Balotelli, 22, was set to take his club to a Premier League tribunal in an attempt to overturn a fine of two weeks wages over his poor disciplinary record last season.

Balotelli will miss the game against Reading at the Etihad Stadium with a virus that has kept him out of training this week. But Mancini was pleased that the situation over the player's conduct has now been resolved.

Mancini said: "He's very unlucky he is ill. This is an old situation and it is normal when someone makes a mistake he should take his responsibilities and Mario did this. It's normal."