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Conservative MP Guy Opperman mistakes black man watching House of Commons Drugs Policy debate for footballer Mario Balotelli Conservative MP Guy Opperman mistakes black man watching House of Commons Drugs Policy debate for footballer Mario Balotelli
(about 2 hours later)
Quite why Mario Balotelli could possibly have fancied a trip to Westminster to "pop" in on the Drugs Policy debate at the House of Commons today remains unclear.Quite why Mario Balotelli could possibly have fancied a trip to Westminster to "pop" in on the Drugs Policy debate at the House of Commons today remains unclear.
But the Liverpool striker has a history of doing the unexpected. Like randomly driving into a women’s prison to "have a look around" and burning down his own bathroom after attempting an indoor fireworks display using the wrong type of fireworks.But the Liverpool striker has a history of doing the unexpected. Like randomly driving into a women’s prison to "have a look around" and burning down his own bathroom after attempting an indoor fireworks display using the wrong type of fireworks.
Which might well have added some credence to claims, originally made by Conservative MP for Hexham Guy Opperman, that he’d spotted the Italian sportsman watching the political drama unfold in the public gallery today.Which might well have added some credence to claims, originally made by Conservative MP for Hexham Guy Opperman, that he’d spotted the Italian sportsman watching the political drama unfold in the public gallery today.
"Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has popped in to Commons Gallery to watch the Drug Policy debate -wearing sharp suit, pink shirt and a poppy," Opperman tweeted, spawning a series of confused tweets from journalists squinting to work out whether they were in fact in the presence of the Italian international – or whether the politician had embarrassingly mistaken him for a random black guest."Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has popped in to Commons Gallery to watch the Drug Policy debate -wearing sharp suit, pink shirt and a poppy," Opperman tweeted, spawning a series of confused tweets from journalists squinting to work out whether they were in fact in the presence of the Italian international – or whether the politician had embarrassingly mistaken him for a random black guest.
Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli has popped in to Commons Gallery to watch the Drug Policy debate -wearing sharp suit, pink shirt a poppyLiverpool striker Mario Balotelli has popped in to Commons Gallery to watch the Drug Policy debate -wearing sharp suit, pink shirt a poppy
Man who looks very much like Mario Balotelli in Commons public Gallery for the drugs debate....could it be him?!Man who looks very much like Mario Balotelli in Commons public Gallery for the drugs debate....could it be him?!
Mario Balotelli sitting in on the commons drug policy debate? Surely not...Mario Balotelli sitting in on the commons drug policy debate? Surely not...
Not too sure on this one... perhaps a Mario Balotelli lookalike on the loose. Although would you really put it past him?Not too sure on this one... perhaps a Mario Balotelli lookalike on the loose. Although would you really put it past him?
Turns out, the latter was correct. As Balotelli was about 220 miles away in a different city.Turns out, the latter was correct. As Balotelli was about 220 miles away in a different city.
"Mario Balotelli was and still is at Melwood Training Ground," Liverpool Football club confirmed."Mario Balotelli was and still is at Melwood Training Ground," Liverpool Football club confirmed.
PROOF: Here is Mario Balotelli training with Liverpool but an hour or so ago pic.twitter.com/cXMXTbZCY6PROOF: Here is Mario Balotelli training with Liverpool but an hour or so ago pic.twitter.com/cXMXTbZCY6
"I get that all the time," the doppleganger, apparently speaking to The Telegraph journalist Steven Swinford about his mistaken identity, said."I get that all the time," the doppleganger, apparently speaking to The Telegraph journalist Steven Swinford about his mistaken identity, said.
British MP mistakenly thinks 55-year-old dancer is Liverpool striker Mario Balotelli http://t.co/PcOgDFQp1M pic.twitter.com/z3o2WY1HmZ