BALOTELLI ESCAPE SUSPENSION AFTERLORIENT RED CARD

The controversial striker is free to continue his

blistering start to life at the Ligue 1 side after his

potential suspension was not enforced by league

officials

Mario Balotelli's second yellow card against Lorient has

been wiped from the records, the Ligue

de Football Professionnel has confirmed.

The Italian was shown two yellows and the subsequent

red in Ligue 1 on Sunday - but a reprieve was always likely

after referee Olivier Thual admitted post-game that he had

blundered in cautioning Balotelli for a second time.

The striker was booked as he celebrated his 86th-minute

strike - a goal that would prove to be the winner - and had

his name taken again for an apparent altercation with

Steven Moreira deep into stoppage time.

Pascal Garibian, technical director of refereeing, explained,

however, that Thual confirmed he made a mistake in the

aftermath of the game at the Allianz Riviera.

"Olivier Thual has watched the match," Garibian told

L'Equipe . "Of course, he agreed that the two yellow cards

[for Balotelli and Moreira] were rushed and shouldn't have

been given. The referee is available to the disciplinary

committee to say this on record.

"Then it will be up to them to judge if further action is

needed."

The disciplinary committee published their findings on

Thursday and confirmed Balotelli's second yellow had

been expunged, meaning no suspension would be served.

The striker has made a stunning start to his career in

Ligue 1 after being rescued from his Liverpool nightmare

on the final day of the transfer window.

Balotelli has scored six goals in five appearances in all

competitions for leaders Nice since arriving in France.