Premier: Kiko Casilla, sanctioned with eight games for racist comments to a Charlton player | Premier League 2019

The FA finds him guilty of making racist comments against Charlton Athletic player Jonathan Leko during a Championship game in September 2019.

The Spanish goalkeeper of Leeds United, Kiko CasillaHe has been sanctioned with eight matches and a fine of 60,000 pounds – almost 70,000 euros – for making racist comments against the Charlton Athletic player Jonathan Leko, as confirmed on Friday the English Federation (FA).

According to the federation, the former Real Madrid goalkeeper breached rule E3 of the FA statutes, which includes the violations of the regulation in “reference to race and ethnic origin”, during the Championship match against Charlton Athletic in September 2019.

Despite the allegations of the Leeds, the Tarragona goalkeeper has been penalized with eight penalty games and fined 69,658 euros, and must attend a re-education session. The English club accepted the sanction of the player, although he recalled that Casilla never acknowledged having uttered such insults. “We do not tolerate any form of discrimination within our club, we are leaders in the fight against discrimination. However, It is important to recognize that Kiko has always denied making racist comments“points.

“The FA panel has based its decision on the balance of probability instead of proving that Kiko is guilty beyond reasonable doubt, which we have always believed to be the most appropriate burden of proof,” he concludes.

“The 5 most difficult months”

After knowing the decision, Casilla showed her sadness for the verdict. “I feel sad and devastated for having been convicted of making a racist comment during the game last September against Charlton”, indicated through social networks, where he stressed that racism “should not be tolerated” in sport or society.

In addition, he said he understood the process carried out by the FA and was “totally in favor of any persecution to eliminate this scourge of racism.” “However, I want to say that these five months have been the most difficult of my professional career, and I don't feel at all that the guilty verdict is a reflection of what really happened“he pointed out.

“I am sure that my family, friends, colleagues and technical bodies with whom I have worked all these years in my professional career know that NEVER use words with meaning and racist connotations, and that my respectful behavior towards the rival since I started my career has always been honest and with the maximum fair play“, I underline, and concluded by thanking his” support “for Leeds and the fans, which makes him feel” stronger in complicated moments. “