Why always Mario? City stars step in after Balotelli wars with Richards in new bust-up

By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 5:15 PM on 15th December 2011

Mario Balotelli was at the centre of another bust-up with one of his own team-mates today.
The fiery Manchester City striker was involved in a furious spat with Micah Richards at their Carrington training ground.
In what is another embarrassing episode involving the controversial Italian, the pair had to be restrained by their team-mates in front of stunned onlookers - and waiting photographers.
Bust up: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini steps in to break up a warring team-mates Micah Richards and Mario Balotelli
Bust up: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini steps in to break up a warring team-mates Micah Richards and Mario Balotelli
Sportsmailunderstands that the row was triggered by a stray pass from full-back Richards during Thursday's training session ahead of this weekend's crunch Barclays PremierLeague clash with Arsenal.
Balotelli is believed to have reacted with a comment aimed at the defender, who then lost his cool and attempted to launch himself at the striker.
Several players, including James Milner, Yaya Toure and captain Vincent Kompany, had to battle to keep the two players apart.
They were then brought together by manager Roberto Mancini for a stern lecture in front of team-mates, who are now fully accustomed to Balotelli's unpredictable behaviour.
Stepping in: City captain Vincent Kompany steps in to hold back Balotelli
Let me at him: Angry Richards is forced back by team-mates James Milner and Yaya Toure
Flash-point: Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany steps in to restrain fiery Italian Balotelli as Yaya Toure and James Milner attempt to hold off an angry Richards (R)
Richards attempted to play down the row on Twitter afterwards by posting: ‘Me & mario are all good! these things happen in training & we shook hands after. it shows passion! #ctid’
After suffering their first defeat of their PremierLeague campaign at Chelsea on Monday, this is the last thing boss Mancini needs ahead of Sunday's home clash against the Gunners.
Calm down: Milner struggles to stop Richards as things get heated quickly at Carrington
Calm down: Milner struggles to stop Richards as things get heated quickly at Carrington
And it is just the latest in a long line of controversies in which Balotelli has been at the centre of since his arrival from Inter Milan last year.
He is currently living in a hotel in the middle of Manchester after his multi-million pound country house caught fire when his friends set off fireworks inside the bathroom before the incredible 6-1 victory over United in the derby.
Nothing to see here: City boss Mancini attempts to play down the incident after spotting photographers
Nothing to see here: City boss Mancini attempts to play down the incident after spotting photographers

And before Monday's 2-1 defeat at Chelsea, Balotelli broke a curfew by staying out until 1am on Sunday morning at an Indian restaurant.
This is certainly not the first time that Balotelli has been involved in a clash with a team-mate at City's training base.
Hands on: England goalkeeper Joe Hart gets involved to bring calm to the situation but Richards is still seething
Hands on: England goalkeeper Joe Hart gets involved to bring calm to the situation but Richards is still seething

He infamously scrapped with former defender Jerome Boateng after reacting badly to a challenge and was also photographed clashing with Kompany.
City face the problem of photographers having easy access to their Carrington base because a public footpath runs by the side of the pitches. The club are currently putting up fences to attempt to keep out the cameras.
He's got previous: Balotelli infamously scrapped with former team-mate Jerome Boateng last season at Carrington
He's got previous: Balotelli infamously scrapped with former team-mate Jerome Boateng last season at Carrington

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Michael,London i dont see Mario Ballotelli flinch one bit not for a seond mate and i will tell you another thing James Milner would be the same just look at the way he had hold of Richards who looks like he spat his dummy out and got rattled for no good reason at all and made a complete idiot of himself
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Look at all the city fans crying now saying that it happens all the time at training grounds all over. They don't like it when it's put on them. Come on the arsenal and put theses " plastic supporters and players " to bed. Richards would have put mario to sleep tho " shame "
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As an unabashed HATER of Manchester City, I am totally loving this. However, I only wish that it was a "proper," fists-flying, rugby-league-type all-in brawl invovling not only the entire squad, but the manager and officials......YES !!!!
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LOL I bet Richards would have skinned him alive!
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Would be a great fight but I think Richards will have him for breakfast.
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I can't decide: I like the rebellious misfit striker Mario Balotelli, but I also like the mecurial attacking full back Micah Richards, I know... fight !!!!!
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Looks like hand bags to me the Joey Barton and Craig Bellamy clash recently looked far more serious especially as it continued from the pitch when Liverpool and QPR played and in to the tunnel!
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Plastic stars in their crest, plastic people on the pitch.
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Simple fact is people don't always understand things like this happen in training but because it's mario it's headline report! I like the guy he is a good player I as a Red of manutd would accept all the hiccups if he plays like he does when on the pitch
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Stupid Mancs, must be all the polution in that dreadful city's air making them crazy. - ManU 4 Life, Kent, 15/12/2011 19:23 Name says it all!!
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