Kiko Casilla Hit With 8-Game Ban After Being Found Guilty of Racist Abuse
By Tom Gott
Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has been suspended for eight games by the Football Association after being found guilty of racially abusing Charlton Athletic forward Jonathan Leko back in September 2019.
The 33-year-old was accused of abusing Leko during the Addicks' 1-0 win at The Valley, although Casilla has always pleaded innocence.
However, despite Casilla's appeals, the FA took to their official website to confirm that the 33-year-old had been found guilty by an independent regulatory commission.
Alongside his eight-match suspension, Casilla has been fined £60,000 and has also been ordered to attend a face-to-face education class after being deemed to have committed an 'aggravated breach' of FA rules.
Leeds also posted a statement on their website condemning Casilla's alleged actions, but they criticised the FA for charging the goalkeeper without finding any indisputable proof.
"Leeds United acknowledges that Kiko Casilla has been found guilty of breaching FA Rule E3 during our Sky Bet Championship game with Charlton Athletic in September 2019.
"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."
The suspension means Casilla will not be eligible to return for Leeds until 18th April, when Leeds will welcome Barnsley to Elland Road. Marcelo Bielsa's men will only have two more games after that - the last of which just so happens to come against Charlton.
Leeds currently find themselves second in the Championship, four points behind leaders West Bromwich Albion, while they boast a five-point advantage over third-placed Fulham in the race for automatic promotion.