Balotelli caught smoking on a train

Enigma ... Mario Balotelli is in strife again. Source: Alberto Pizzoli / AFP

Mario Balotelli's smoking habit has him in trouble.

The Italian striker was caught smoking a cigarette in the bathroom on a train carrying his AC Milan squad to face Fiorentina on Sunday, with club vice president Adriano Galliani saying Balotelli would be fined.

Coaches have been trying to get Balotelli to quit smoking for years and the practice is banned on Italian trains.

Balotelli should have plenty of time to mull over his latest act of misbehaviour as he picked up a yellow card in the 2-2 draw with Fiorentina which rules him out of next weekend's showdown with Napoli, the team Milan is trying to catch for second place and a direct Champions League berth.

Besides his numerous run-ins with coaches, Balotelli has a history of off-pitch misbehaviour.

He made light of his troubles in 2011 when he was with Manchester City by unveiling a T-shirt with the slogan "Why Always Me?" during a 6-1 rout of Manchester United in a Premier League derby.

That came after news emerged that a fire had broken out at his house when fireworks were let off in his bathroom.

Balotelli escaped punishment earlier in 2011 after throwing a dart at a City youth-team player. No one was hurt in the incident. 

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Balotelli rues misses in Milan derby

Derby ... Mario Balotelli surges ahead for AC Milan. Source: Giuseppe Cacace / AAP

AC Milan striker Mario Balotelli missed a handful of chances in his first derby in more than three years as the Rossoneri shared the spoils Sunday in a 1-1 derby draw with hosts Inter Milan.

Milan took a 21st-minute lead through striker Stephan El Shaarawy and dominated throughout before ultimately lamenting their earlier misses when Inter midfielder Ezequiel Schelotto levelled in the 71st minute.

Inter were given a pre-match boost with the inclusion of central defender Andrea Ranocchia, who had been an injury doubt all week.

Yet despite Milan's 1-0 defeat to the Nerazzurri at the San Siro earlier in the campaign, the visitors started the second 'Derby della Madonnina' as firm favourites having stunned Barcelona 2-0 in their Champions League first leg last week and climbing up to third place on the table.

Milan enjoyed the share of the early chances with Sulley Muntari and Mattia De Sciglio testing Samir Handanovic, while Inter striker Antonio Cassano had a lame shot easily collected by Christian Abbiati.

However, the visitors spurned the first of several clear chances, Balotelli slipping in front of goal after Kevin Prince Boateng had left Mattia De Sciglio's cross from the left wing at his feet.

At the other end, forward Rodrigo Palacio should have done better with an angled strike that went well side of Abbiati's far post.

Also on Sunday, Roma beat Atalanta 3-2, Cagliari downed Torino 4-3, Catania accounted for Parma 2-1, Juventus thrashed Siena 3-0 and Sampdoria defeated Chievo 2-0.

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