Bernardo Silva is let off with just a one-match ban over his racially-offensive tweet to team-mate Benjamin Mendy – and Manchester City WON’T appeal
- Bernardo Silva first sparked controversy in September when he tweeted a photo
- The photo was of Benjamin Mendy as a child and a black cartoon mascot
- Silva will miss Manchester City’s next match against Chelsea on November 23
- He has avoided a six-game ban, which would usually be awarded for such action
Bernardo Silva has been handed a one-match ban and fined £50,000 for an offensive tweet sent to Manchester City team-mate Benjamin Mendy.
Silva and City had been left in limbo following the player’s initial charge in September.
Silva sparked controversy when he posted a photo of Mendy as a child next to an image of the black cartoon mascot for Spanish chocolate peanut brand Conguitos with the message: ‘Guess who?’
Bernardo Silva has been given a one-match ban and fined £50,000 by the Football Association
Bernardo Silva faced an angry backlash after posting this image on Twitter in September
Benjamin Mendy took it well but Silva has since faced accusations of racism over the picture
Silva went on to delete the Tweet before expressing his frustration with the angry response
Mendy appeared to take the joke in good spirit but Silva still came in for plenty of criticism and the Portugal international then later tweeted: ‘Can’t even joke with a friend these days… you guys.’
The FA said the tweet had committed an ‘aggravated breach’ of the football body’s rules and means he now misses City’s Premier League fixture against Chelsea on November 23.
A statement from the FA on Wednesday afternoon read: ‘Bernardo Silva has been suspended for one first-team competitive fixture, fined £50,000 and must complete face-to-face education after admitting a breach of FA Rule E3.
Silva’s ban was reduced because the offence happened on social media, according to the FA
‘The Manchester City midfielder’s social media activity on September 22, 2019 breached FA Rule E3(1), as it was insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute, and constituted an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it included reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin.’
Silva was saved from a six-match ban or longer that typically follows a breach of this nature because the offence happened on social media.
City have chosen not to appeal but privately are annoyed that Silva has received a ban altogether as the FA did accept the tweet was not intended to be racist.
A statement added: ‘This Commission is not bound to pass a suspension of at least six matches for this aggravated breach by reason of the fact that the communication was via social media.’