Uruguayan Football Players Association labels English FA ‘discriminatory’ against Uruguayan people after Edinson Cavani ban

Cavani respected ban

The Uruguayan Football Players Association (UFPA) has responded to the English FA’s 3 match ban for Edinson Cavani after the Manchester United striker was found to have breached regulations regarding discriminatory remarks.

The issue originates from a post on Cavani’s Instagram page where he publicly thanked a close friend’s message of support by using a term that is considered offensive in some contexts.

Cavani released an apology statement in addition to his club Manchester United, however, the FA took action and followed procedure by giving the forward a 3 match suspension.

“Edinson Cavani has been suspended for three games, fined £100,000 and must complete face-to-face education after admitting a charge for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a social media post on Sunday 29 November 2020,” read the statement on the FA’s website.

A comment posted on the Manchester United FC striker’s Instagram page was insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game into disrepute contrary to FA Rule E3.1. 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.

An independent Regulatory Commission was appointed to decide the sanction and its written reasons will be published in due course.

Manchester United responded to the charge from the FA stating that Cavani would respect the charge and serve the ban in ‘solidarity’ with the governing body and in the fight against racism.

“As he has stated, Edinson Cavani wasn’t aware that his words could have been misconstrued and he sincerely apologised for the post and to anyone who was offended.”
 
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, out of respect for, and solidarity with, the FA and the fight against racism in football.”

“While it is clear that context and intent are key factors, we note that the independent Regulatory Commission was required to impose a minimum three-game suspension. 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.

Uruguayan FPA respond

In the wake of the ban, there has been an outpouring of support for the Uruguayan striker and most recently an in-depth statement was made by the UFPA.

This was shared by Uruguayan defender Diego Godin on his social media account.

‘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.’

‘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.’

COMUNICADO OFICIAL pic.twitter.com/WzLkG6nlSf

— Diego Godín (@diegogodin) January 4, 2021

Uruguayan striker Luis Suarez has also quoted Godin’s tweet in support but Cavani himself is yet to publicly respond to the UFPA’s statement.

Man United starlet Pellistri hails Cavani influence in helping him to settle in England

Edinson Cavani banned for misconduct / Manchester United respond to FA statement

This article was edited by Josh Barker.

Source: 101greatgoals.com