The FA gave Edinson Cavani a three-match ban and £100,000 fine for using an offensive term even though they saw proof that 'negrito' was a nickname for his lifelong friend.
The Manchester United forward received the sanction for racism on New Year's Eve after using the term in an Instagram post in response to his friend's online congratulatory message after scoring twice against Southampton in December.
In the written reasons published by the FA, English football's governing body received a video statement from Cavani's friend, Pablo Fernandez, confirming this was a long-term nickname used by the striker, along with several historic WhatsApp messages to prove this.