Balotelli to take City to tribunal over 'unjustified' fine

Mario Balotelli [ Images ] is reportedly taking Manchester City [ Images ] to a Premier League tribunal to overturn a £340,000 club fine.

The controversial Italian striker will appear before an independent two-man panel in London [ Images ] on Wednesday after being docked two weeks' wages by the champions. It is learnt that City handed down the fine after deciding that Balotelli was guilty of a series of breaches of discipline, the Daily Mirror reported.

According to the report, however, the 22-year-old believes that the punishment is unjust. After failing with an appeal to the club's hierarchy, he instructed his agent to pursue City through a tribunal. If Balotelli loses his appeal, he faces paying the five-figure costs of the hearing, as well as the fine, the report said.

City's Abu Dhabi-based owners are worried that Balotelli is giving the club a bad image with his constant indiscretions -- on and off the field -- the report added. Manager Roberto Mancini [ Images ] is also beginning to waver in his support for a player described as "unmanageable" by Jose Mourinho while at Inter Milan [ Images ], the report concluded.