The former Real Madrid shot-stopper will miss all but three matches of the remaining Championship year after being found guilty on Friday.
Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla has obtained a rigid punishment in the Football Association after being found guilty of racist abuse in a match against Charlton Athletic.
The FA ruled that Casilla, 33, racially abused Charlton’s Jonathan Leko throughout the London club’s 1-0 win over Leeds in September.
Casilla, according to the governing body’s charges, “made reference to race or color and/or ethnic origin”, constituting an aggravated violation, and has been given additional time to reply.
However, the allegations have now been proven by an independent regulatory commission and the prior Real Madrid person will overlook the huge bulk of the remainder of the Championship season.
Casilla, who denied racially abusing Leko, was banned for eight games and has also received a fine of #60,000 for the offence.
Additionally, the goalkeeper was ordered to attend a face-to-face instruction session.
In their official reply Leeds accepted the judgment while claiming that Casilla pleaded his innocence.
“We want to make it clear that we don’t tolerate any kind of discrimination within our soccer team and we are a leader in the struggle against discrimination within our wider community,” the club composed in a statement published on their official site.
“However, it’s important to recognise that Kiko has ever denied making any racist remark.
“The FA panel have based their decision on the balance of probability, as opposed to demonstrating Kiko to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, which we’ve always thought is the appropriate burden of proof.”
Leeds now find themselves in second in the Championship, five points clear of Fulham as they remain on track to seal automatic promotion into the Premier League.
Only 11 games remain before the end of the year in England’s next grade, with the side coached by Marcelo Bielsa back in action on Saturday off to Hull City.
