Manchester United forward Edinson Cavani has faced
a ban of three matches and a £100,000 fine for using a racially abusive term on
social media, the Football Association said on Thursday, AFP reported.

Cavani posted a message shortly after United’s game
against Southampton on November 29 where the former won the match 3-2 after the
Uruguayan scored two goals to bring the match back in United’s favour. In the message,
replying to a note of congratulations, he reportedly used the term ‘negrito’
(small black person).

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Despite the player swiftly deleting the post and issuing
an apology, the FA has punished the player for breaching FA Rule E3.

“A comment posted on the Manchester United FC
striker’s Instagram page was insulting, abusive, improper and brought the game
into disrepute,” a statement by FA reportedly read.

“The post also constitutes an ‘aggravated
breach’… as it included reference, whether express or implied, to colour
and/or race and/or ethnic origin,” the statement added.

Manchester United issued a statement saying Cavani
was not aware his words could have been misconstrued and “sincerely
apologised” for the post and to anyone who was offended.

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“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,” the
club said.

United said they hoped the independent regulatory
commission appointed to decide the sanction would make it clear in its written
reasons that the former Paris Saint-Germain player “is not a racist, nor
was there any racist intent in relation to his post”.