Off The Ball

Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla handed 8-game ban for racist abuse

Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has been banned for eight games by the Football Association ...

Richie McCormack

20.21 28 Feb 2020

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Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla handed 8-game ban for racist abuse

Richie McCormack

20.21 28 Feb 2020

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Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has been banned for eight games by the Football Association having been found guilty of racially abusing an opponent.

An independent Regulatory Commission proved the case against the Spanish keeper, and he's also been fined £60,000 while also attending a face-to-face education course.

Casilla was found to have been guilty of an "aggravated breach" of FA Rule E3(1) in making reference to the race and/or ethnicity of Charlton's Jonathan Leko in the September 28 meeting of the sides at the Valley which Leeds lost 1-0.

The 33-year old denied using abusive and/or insulting words towards Leko.

His club Leeds released the following statement in acknowledgement of the ban:

We would like to make it clear that we do not tolerate any form of discrimination within our football club and we are a leader in the fight against discrimination within our wider community.

However, it is important to recognise that Kiko has always denied making any racist comment.

The FA panel have based their decision on the balance of probability rather than proving Kiko to be guilty beyond reasonable doubt, which we have always believed is the more appropriate burden of proof.

Casilla's been an ever-present in the Leeds side this season, and they're currently 2nd in the SkyBet Championship.

His ban kicks in starting with Saturday's lunchtime trip to Hull City.

Casilla will miss all-bar Leeds' last three games of the season as a result of the suspension.

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