...BUT STRIKER FACES THREE-MATCH BAN AFTER RACE STORM

EDINSON CAVANI is facing an FA probe after sparking a race storm following Manchester United’s dramatic victory at Southampton yesterday. Cavani scored two goals, including a stoppage-time winner, to inspire United to victory after coming off the bench at half-time. But his heroics were overshadowed when he posted a Spanish term with racial connotations on social media. In response to a message of congratulations, seemingly from a friend, Cavani said: ‘Gracias negrito.’ The term, which makes reference to race, translates directly as ‘Thanks black’. Three hours after posting the tweet, it was deleted. Cavani insists ‘negrito’ is a term of affection in South America and that will be his defence if any disciplinary action is taken. The FA were last night aware of Cavani’s post and looking into it. And the incident quickly led to comparisons being drawn between Cavani and fellow Uruguay striker Luis Suarez. Suarez, then a Liverpool striker, was banned for eight games and fined £40,000 for using the word ‘negro’ after clashing with United defender Patrice Evra in 2011. Suarez argued in his FA hearing that the word in Uruguay and other parts of Latin America can be inoffensive. In his book, he later insisted the word does not mean the same in English as Spanish and he was unaware of the difference and its ‘highly-offensive’ meaning here at the time, even though he used it in a row with the Frenchman. His suggestions were rejected by the FA’s independent commission. The FA updated their punishment guidelines ahead of the start of the new season in a clampdown on discriminatory behaviour. Any discriminatory behaviour on social media will carry a minimum three-game suspension for culprits compared to bans of between six and 12 games for offences that occur in matches. At least Cavani’s super sub role earned praise from manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer yesterday. Solskjaer likened the 33-year-old to one of his former team-mates, saying: ‘He reminds me of Andy (Cole) with his movement in the box. He is so sharp and clever.’