Cavani is facing scrutiny for the Instagram post he sent after his winner for United on Sunday
Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani could be facing a suspension after a post on his Instagram page featured a racially offensive phrase.
Cavani scored two goals in United’s 3-2 win over Southampton on Sunday afternoon, including their stoppage time winner. He had taken to the social media platform after full-time, using the term when sharing a supportive message from a fan.
United are reported to have insisted the player used the term, which has different connotations in his native Uruguay, in an affectionate manner and the 33-year-old deleted the post when it was explained to him that such phrases are perceived differently in the United Kingdom.
A series of reports have since confirmed the FA are investigating the post. If deemed to make reference to a person’s ethnic origin, race or nationality, it could lead to a ban – despite the fact the post was later deleted.
The term used by Cavani is also said to have been used by his Uruguay teammate Luis Suarez to Patrice Evra in a 2011 meeting between Liverpool and United at Anfield. Despite Suarez’s explanation at the time – that the term was used as a term of endearment, not a racial slur – an FA disciplinary panel banned him for eight matches.
Last year, Bernardo Silva was banned for one game after posting and deleting a tweet comparing his Manchester City teammate Benjamin Mendy with a cartoon associated with a brand of Spanish chocolate.
