The Word "Negrito" In Cavani's Post: The Racist Striker Or The FA Who Lacks Cultural Insight?

Edinson Cavani (Source: Antara)

JAKARTA - Football Association (FA) sanctions against Edinson Cavani have long tails. Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras or Uruguay's National Language Academy protested against the sanctions, expressing outrage at the English football association.

Cavani's troubles surfaced when the Manchester United striker posted a statement on Instagram. Cavani said the word "negrito", a statement considered racist by the FA.

In Spanish, it means "little black person." Cavani has been suspended for three matches and a fine of 100,000 euros.

The 33-year-old Uruguay player actually deleted the post after realizing the different connotations the public received. Cavani has also apologized and stressed that he stands on the opposite side of racism. It always is, says Cavani.

However the FA found the comments in the post "insulting, insulting, inappropriate and made the game worse." The FA also considers the comments in the post to be a worse offense because it includes references, both express and implied, to color and / or race and / or ethnic origin.

Defense for Cavani

Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras defends Cavani. They issued a statement on Friday, January 1. Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras describes the word "negro" (black person) or the diminutif "negrito" as similar to "gordo" (fat) or "gordito" and "flaco" (skinny).

Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras wants people to see context. In the language culture of the Uruguayan people, this expression is often used to show affection for someone.

"In Spanish (spoken) in Uruguay, for example, between spouses or friends, between parents and children, someone often hears and pronounces expressions such as ... gordito, negri, negrito ... In fact, someone who has not spoken certainly overweight or dark skinned, "wrote Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras in the caption.

Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras also issued an objection to Cavani's sanctions and said the federation's "questionable resolution" was the result of "a poverty of cultural and linguistic knowledge."

At the end of his statement, Uruguay's Academia Nacional de Letras said the FA had "committed serious injustice to a Uruguayan athlete who is at the highest international level and has exposed ignorance ... of the use of language and in particular Spanish, regardless of all its complexity and context."

As a side note, Cavani wrote, "Gracias (thank you) negrito," in response to a congratulatory message on social media.