FA to investigate Edinson Cavani’s deleted Instagram post

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.