Manchester City striker Mario Balotelli has said that he only accepted his four-match ban for stamping on Scott Parker because he could not prove his innocence.
The Italian, who missed his side's 3-2 aggregate defeat to Liverpool in the Carling Cup last night, will also miss the trips to Everton, Aston Villa and a home game against Fulham.
However, Balotelli has insisted that he did not intend to stamp on the Spurs midfielder during Tottenham's visit to the Etihad Stadium last weekend.
"I have accepted the ban because I couldn't prove my innocence," he told reporters.
"But I'm not a villain or violent. I didn't try to [place my] heel [on] Parker."
Balotelli went on to score the winning goal in added time as the Citizens beats Spurs 3-2 at home.
