PHOTOS: Mario Balotelli's horrific tackle on Scott Sinclair that sparked bust-up with Roberto Mancini

The tackle by Mario Balotelli that caused yesterday’s training ground fracas at Manchester City was ‘horrific’, according to those who witnessed it.

City manager Roberto Mancini must this morning face questions about why he allowed himself to be dragged in to an unseemly shoving match with Balotelli in front of waiting cameramen towards the end of training yesterday morning.

But it was revealed that Balotelli’s lunge at Scott Sinclair was so ugly and wild that Mancini felt compelled to intervene and try and get the wayward Italian off the field.

pictures after the break

‘This was not just a mistimed tackle or a lazy tackle that you sometimes get towards the end of training,’ said a source this morning.

‘This was a horrendous, horrific slash that looked pre-meditated and could have left Scott Sinclair injured.

‘Only Mario himself will know if it was pre-meditated but it looked bad.