LEEDS UNITED GOALKEEPER Kiko Casilla has received a stiff penalty from the Football Association after being found guilty of racist abuse in a game against Charlton Athletic.
The FA ruled that Casilla, 33, racially abused Charlton’s Jonathan Leko during the London club’s 1-0 win over Leeds in September.
Casilla, according to the governing body’s charges, ”made reference to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin”, constituting an aggravated breach, and was given extra time to respond.
But the allegations have now been proven by an independent regulatory commission and the former Real Madrid man will miss the vast bulk of the rest of the Championship season.
Casilla, who denied racially abusing Leko, has been banned for eight matches and has also received a fine of £60,000 for the offence.
Additionally, the goalkeeper has been ordered to attend a face-to-face education session.
In their official response Leeds accepted the ruling while maintaining that Casilla pleaded his innocence.
“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,” the club wrote in a statement published on their official website.