Edinson Cavani has banned Manchester United for three matches and was fined £ 100,000 ($ A172,000) for using a racist term in a social media post, the Football Association announced on Thursday.
The 33-year-old summer signing gave Southampton a matchwinning display on November 29, backing Bruno Fernandes before scoring two goals in a 3-2 back win.
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Cavani BANNED for social role
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Cavani posted a social media message on Instagram shortly after the game, responding to a congratulatory message using the Spanish term “negrito” (little black man).
The Uruguayan abruptly dismissed the post and issued an apology after becoming aware of the controversies, with the player releasing an apology statement saying he was “completely against racism ”.
But the FA has now punished the striker after he admitted breaking the FA’s E3 Rule. “A comment posted on the Manchester United FC striker’s Instagram page was offensive, abusive, inappropriate and brought the game into disrepute,” the FA said in a statement.
“The post also includes ‘aggravated breach’ iomradh as it included reference, whether explicit or intelligible, to color and / or ethnicity and / or ethnic origin , ”The statement said.
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Manchester United issued a statement saying Cavani was unaware that his words could be misused and “sincerely apologize” for the job and to anyone convicted.
“Despite his honest belief that he was only offering a heartfelt thank you in response to a congratulatory message from a close friend, he chose not to complain against respect and intimacy with the FA and the the fight against racism in football, ”the club said.
United said it hoped the independent regulatory commission hired to make the sanction decision would be clear in its written reasons that the former Paris Saint-Germain player is not ” racism, and that there was no racist intent towards the post ”.