Liverpool forward Mario Balotelli once again attracted the ire of fans for a lacklustre performance during their 3-0 Champions League loss to Real Madrid before risking further condemnation by swapping shirts with Real defender Pepe at half-time, when he was replaced by Adam Lallana.
Reds boss Brendan Rodgers knew nothing of his £16million summer signing's antics before entering the tunnel and stressed he would deal with the situation, as he said he did when Mamadou Sakho did something similar with Samuel Eto'o in December.
"That's the first I've heard of it but if that's the case then I wouldn't like it. It's something that I don't like to see, I've seen it happen in other leagues and other countries but it's certainly something that doesn't happen here and shouldn't happen," he said.
"We had an incident last year here with a player, which I dealt with, and if that's the case then I'll deal with this as well."
As for withdrawing Balotelli at the interval, Rodgers made it plain that he felt the controversial Italian was underperforming.
"[It was] just tactical. I felt that we needed a bit more intensity and someone to create through the middle and occupy their centre-halves a wee bit more.
"Adam Lallana came on and did very, very well. Young Raheem Sterling played up there, which was difficult for him but I thought he kept working and kept trying and it's not a natural position for him."
