Manchester United have given their support to Edinson Cavani after he was hit with a misconduct charge by the Football Association.
The 33-year-old Uruguayan has been charged over the use of a racial term on social media.
After inspiring United to a 3-2 comeback win over Southampton in November, Cavani posted a message on Instagram in response to a fan that featured the world ‘negrito’.
He quickly deleted the post and issued an apology, insisting the word has a different and inoffensive meaning in his home nation.
But after an investigation into his post, the FA announced on Thursday the player had been charged.
And Man United have issued a response, insisting there was ‘no malicious intent’ behind Cavani’s message.
The Premier League giants say they will now ‘consider’ the charge and ‘respond to the FA accordingly’.
A statement from the FA read: “Edinson Cavani has been charged with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3, in relation to a social media post on Thursday 29 November 2020.
“It is alleged that, contrary to FA Rule E3.1, a comment posted on the Manchester United FC player’s Instagram page was insulting and/or abusive and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
“It is further alleged that the comment constitutes an ‘Aggravated Breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
“The striker has until Monday 4 January 2021 to provide a response to the charge.”
The Red Devils issued their response on their website on Thursday morning.
It read: “Manchester United and all of our players are fully committed to the fight against racism and we will continue to work with the FA – along with other governing bodies and organisations, and through our own campaigns – in that regard.
“We note the FA decision today to charge Edinson Cavani for his social media reply to a friend’s message of congratulations, following the Southampton game.
“Edinson and the club were clear that there was absolutely no malicious intent behind the message, which he deleted and apologised for, as soon as he was informed that it could have been misconstrued.
“The player and the club will now consider the charge and respond to the FA accordingly.”