Uruguay's football players have joined forces to emphatically condemn Edinson Cavani's three-match ban for using a racial term, insisting the FA have committed a 'true discriminatory act' on the way of life of Uruguayan people by punishing the Manchester United striker for using a 'common Latin American expression'.
Cavani was hit with the suspension after using the word 'negrito' in an Instagram post after the club's victory over Southampton on November 29, before taking it down and apologising.
The United forward, who was also fined £100,000 and ordered to complete 'face-to-face education', accepted his punishment but insisted he was expressing himself 'according to my culture and way of life' and that the post was intended to show affection towards a friend.
The FA said last week that Cavani's comment was 'improper and brought the game into disrepute' but Uruguayan players have banded together to slam the 'reprehensible decision' to discipline their compatriot with captain Diego Godin leading the fight to prove his team-mate isn't racist by sharing it online.
In a strongly worded statement from the Uruguayan Football Players Association said: 'We must condemn the arbitrary conduct of the English Football Association. Far from condemning racism, the English Football Association has itself committed a discriminatory act against the culture and way of life of the Uruguayan people.
'The sanction shows the English Football Association's biased, dogmatic and ethnocentric vision that only allows a subjective interpretation to be made from its particular and excluding conclusion, however flawed it may be.
'Edinson Cavani has never committed any conduct that could be interpreted as racist. He merely used a common expression in Latin America to affectionately address a love one or close friend. To sustain that the only way to obtain a valid interpretation in life is that which lies in the minds of the managers of the English Football Association is actually a true discriminatory act, which is completely reprehensible and against Uruguayan culture.'
It continued: 'We would therefore like to publicly defend Edinson Cavani's impeccable character and of course our country's culture. We are all against any kind of discrimination; however unfortunately, through its sanction, the English Football Association expresses absolute ignorance and disdain for a multicultural vision of the world, respectful of its plurality, by erroneously, unilaterally and rigidly imposing its anti-racist rules, the basis of which we support but are obviously not realistically applicable to the case in question here.
'It has not punished one person, but also our whole culture, our way of life, which is truly a discriminatory and racist act.'
The statement also urged the FA to review it's decision-making process and to overturn Cavani's suspension.
United confirmed last week that Uruguayan striker Cavani chose not to contest the charge out of respect for the FA and the 'fight against racism in football'.
'I do not want to extend much in this uncomfortable moment,' Cavani wrote on Instagram. 'I want to share with you that I accept the disciplinary sanction knowing that I am foreign to English language customs, but I do not share the point of view.
'I apologise if I offended someone with an expression of affection towards a friend, nothing further in my intention. Those who know me know that my effort always seeks the simplest joy and friendship!
'I appreciate the countless expressions of support and affection. My heart is at peace because I know that I always expressed myself with affection according to my culture and way of life. I send you a sincere hug.'
The 33-year-old has already served one game of his suspension, having missed United's victory over Aston Villa last week.
Unless the ban is overturned, he will also be unavailable for United's League Cup semi-final against Manchester City on Wednesday and the FA Cup match against Watford.
JEREMY_BENZ
566
English FA are Themselves Racist...Imagine Fining Someone For Affectionately Thanking His Friend...What A Mess!
Vayopstuz
409
he is so lucky to get just 3 games ban should be more, maybe 12games ban will be enough so as to teach some leasons to some people who thinks been racists is gud, if u ask me i would say 15 game ban and 50% deduction of salaries or better still get rude of u as a footballer maybe u should go do something else fools
Wangnao_Wangnaolim
361
Imagine, in your language "Negro" or "Negrito" means a "friend" but the same isn't in English so they ban you and loots you
Kopbmruz
22
he is so lucky to get just 3 games ban should be more, maybe 12games ban will be enough so as to teach some leasons to some people who thinks been racists is gud, if u ask me i would say 15 game ban and 50% deduction of salaries or better still get rude of u as a footballer maybe u should go do something else fools
Cavani should be given prison for life. We should also ban "negro" from any Slavic and Latin language, from now on they should say "dark gray" instead. And while we're at it, let's just force Montenegro and Nigeria to change their country names. Are you kidding me?
TheBrownGeek
11
he is so lucky to get just 3 games ban should be more, maybe 12games ban will be enough so as to teach some leasons to some people who thinks been racists is gud, if u ask me i would say 15 game ban and 50% deduction of salaries or better still get rude of u as a footballer maybe u should go do something else fools
Rupikopz
9
he is so lucky to get just 3 games ban should be more, maybe 12games ban will be enough so as to teach some leasons to some people who thinks been racists is gud, if u ask me i would say 15 game ban and 50% deduction of salaries or better still get rude of u as a footballer maybe u should go do something else fools
they are only pretending if not how many African countries takes part in the world cup. If you look deep in yourself you are a racist. Our mentality can never change when CNN talks of only wars and diseases in Africa instead of the good that supercedes the bad things. It is only God
Jebabdkt
8
he is so lucky to get just 3 games ban should be more, maybe 12games ban will be enough so as to teach some leasons to some people who thinks been racists is gud, if u ask me i would say 15 game ban and 50% deduction of salaries or better still get rude of u as a footballer maybe u should go do something else fools
maybe we should take the word black out of the English dictionary looks like black people have fucking potatoes on their shoulders