Balotelli season ends with 39th minute red card for Adana Demirspor

Mario Balotelli was shown a red card after 39 minutes of Adana Demirspor’s Turkish Super Lig match against relegation-threatened Gaziantep. 

The former Italy international was sent off for an off the ball incident, after being caught in confrontation with a number of opposition players in the lead-up to a Demirspor corner. 

He had been entrusted with the captain’s armband for Sunday’s fixture. 

Season over for Adana Demirspor?

As this is Demirspor’s 36th league match out of 38, and with a straight red card typically coming with the consequence of a multi-game ban, Balotelli’s 2024-25 season is now assumed to be over. 

Balotelli’s contract is due to expire at the end of the 2023-24 season, but there is an option to extend that agreement by a further 12 months. If the club decide against activating the extension clause, Balotelli’s sending off could be his final action in a Demirspor shirt.

It is Balotelli’s first red card in over two years. His last dismissal dates back to April 2022, when he was given his marching orders during a 4-0 loss against Kasimpasa for a non-violent foul.

The 33-year-old has been in respectable form in front of goal throughout 2023-24, averaging just shy of a goal every game in the league. His domestic tally currently stands at seven goals from 15 appearances.