Kiko Casilla, Spanish goalkeeper for Leeds United, has been suspended for eight games for making racist insults during the match against Charlton Athletic in September 2019, a claim that the player has always denied.
The English Football Association (FA) accuses the goalkeeper of violating rule E3 during that match, as reported by Leeds in a statement on their social networks in which, after recalling that Casilla has always denied using racist insults against any opponent, they ensure that they do not tolerate "any kind of discrimination" as they are a "leading" club in the fight against it.
"The FA has based its decision on the balance of probabilities rather than proving Kiko guilty beyond all reasonable doubt, which we have always believed is the most appropriate burden of proof," concludes the text from the English team.
After learning of the punishment, Kiko Casilla himself published a statement on his official Twitter account in which he says he feels "sad and devastated" and confesses that these five months have been "the most difficult" of his career.
"I feel sad and devastated (starts) for having been found guilty of allegedly making a racist comment during the match last September against Charlton. First of all, I want to make it clear and very forcefully that racism should not be tolerated in football or in sport, nor does it have a place in our society."
After expressing support for investigating and prosecuting any accusations of racism, the Spanish player explains that he does not feel "at all" that the guilty verdict "reflects what really happened."
"I am sure (Casilla continues) that my family, friends, teammates, and coaching staff with whom I have worked all these years in my professional career know that I would NEVER use words with racist meaning and connotations and that my respectful behavior towards the opponent since I started my career has always been honest and with the utmost fair play."
Finally, the Spanish player thanked Leeds United for the support they have shown him during these months and also the fans, whose encouragement "week after week" makes him feel stronger in these difficult times. EFE