West Ham appear to be the beneficiaries of recent controversy amid claims that Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani could be facing at last a three-match ban for an offensive social media post.
The 33-year-old former Paris Saint-Germain marksman joined Manchester United on a free transfer two months ago after his deal with the Ligue 1 side expired in the summer.
He grabbed the headlines for scoring a brace and setting up a goal for the Red Devils in a 3-2 win over Southampton, with the Manchester side having been two goals down at half-time.
However, the Uruguayan then made headlines for all the wrong reasons after responding to a friend’s praise on Instagram with a phrase widely regarded as a racist.
Cavani issued a public apology via official Manchester United channels and signalled his fervent opposition to racism, stating: “The message I posted after the game on Sunday was intended as an affectionate greeting to a friend, thanking him for his congratulations after the game. The last thing I wanted to do was cause offence to anyone.
“I am completely opposed to racism and deleted the message as soon as it was explained that it can be interpreted differently. I would like to sincerely apologise for this.”
According to The Sun, under FA regulations, the use of a discriminatory word, regardless of context, leaves the South American open to a charge, which is expected to take the form of a three-match ban.
New regulations brought in by the FA in August distinguish between language used on and off the pitch, including on social media. As a consequence, Cavani is not immune to any use of offensive language on his platforms, however unintentional any hurt may have been.
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Whilst the circumstances are entirely regrettable, West Ham fans may feel a sense of relief in relation to the interests of their own club.
As the Hammers welcome their opponents to London Stadium, the Red Devils’ potential loss of the in-form Cavani could be quite a fillip for David Moyes’ side.
