Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli will not appeal against his one-match ban imposed for posting racist and anti-semitic comments on social media.

The Italy international was given the suspension, a £25,000 fine and will have to attend an education course following the decision of an independent disciplinary panel.

The panel issued the punishment on Thursday after the 24-year-old admitted to an aggravated breach of Football Association Rule E3, relating to references of ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality or religion or belief, after his posting of an image of computer game character Super Mario on Instagram which included the words "jumps like a black man and grabs coins like a Jew".

It means he will miss Sunday's visit of Arsenal, although there were doubts over his fitness anyway as he did not travel to Bournemouth for the Reds' 3-1 Capital One Cup victory on Wednesday because he was having treatment on a groin injury.

Having submitted detailed mitigation, Balotelli apologised again after the verdict.

"Following the recent events related to my 'Super Mario' post, the FA decision has made clear that it was wrong," he wrote on Twitter.

"I am sorry that my team-mates and supporters of Liverpool FC have to be penalised for something I did and now come to regret.

"It is my intention to comply with the decision of the FA and make sure it never happens again."