Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani has been suspended for three games and fined 100,000 pounds ($136,590) after he admitted a Football Association (FA) charge for using a racial term, the soccer governing body said on Thursday.
The 33-year-old Uruguayan used the word 'negrito' in an Instagram post last month after beating Southampton on Nov. 29, before taking it down and apologising.
Cavani will miss United’s league game against Aston Villa, the League Cup semi-final against Manchester City and the FA Cup match against Watford as a result of the suspension.
“A comment posted on the Manchester United striker’s Instagram page was insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1,” the FA said in a statement.
“The post also constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin.”
The FA said Cavani would also have to complete “face-to-face education” as part of his punishment.
United said Cavani chose not to contest the charge out of respect for the FA and the “fight against racism in football”.
“Despite his honest belief that he was simply sending an affectionate thank-you in response to a congratulatory message from a close friend, he chose not to contest the charge,” United said in a statement.
“The club trusts that the independent Regulatory Commission will make it clear in its written reasons that Edinson Cavani is not a racist, nor was there any racist intent in relation to his post.”
Man Utd, Man City to play rescheduled Premier League games in January
Manchester United and Manchester City will play their rescheduled fixtures from the opening weekend of the season in January, the Premier League announced on Thursday.
Both Manchester clubs did not play on the opening weekend in September due to their participation in the knockout stages of last season’s European club competitions which ended only in August due to the COVID-19 hiatus.
Burnley will host second-placed United on Jan. 12 while City host Aston Villa on Jan. 20.
The fixtures add to a packed schedule for both Manchester clubs who also play each other in the League Cup semi-final on Jan. 6 before they begin their FA Cup campaign the following weekend.
City, eighth in the standings, have two games in hand after Monday’s match at Everton was postponed due to a COVID-19 outbreak at their club.
City’s first team have since returned to training after their facilities were closed for two days but the league has yet to reschedule the game against Everton.
