Kiko Casilla's statement in full following eight-match racism ban | OneFootball

Leeds goalkeeper Kiko Casilla was handed an eight-match ban after being found guilty of making a racist comment during their game against Charlton Athletic back in September.

The ban will take immediate effect, meaning Casilla will be unavailable for this weekend’s clash against Hull City.

After the ban was handed down, Casilla took to social media to make an official statement.

“I feel truly sad and devastated for being accused of making supposedly a racist comment during last September’s match vs Charlton.

“Firstly I want to express firmly that racism should not be tolerated neither in football, sports, not in any other field in our society.

“With respect to the FA, I fully respect and understand the obvious process to be taken to prosecute and accusation of racism. In fact, I totally agree with any prosecution in order to eliminate any trace of racism in sport.

“Nevertheless I would sincerely like to mention that the last five months have been the most difficult ones in my professional career, and I do not feel at all that the guilty verdict is a clear reflection of the incident.

“I am sure that my family, friends, colleagues and the different technical teams whom I have been working with for all these years in my professional career know that I would NEVER use my words with a racist meaning, and my respectful behaviour towards my opponents since I started my career has been honest and with the maximum sense of fair play.

“I would like to deeply thank my club, Leeds United, for its support during all this time, and above all, I appreciate the support of our amazing fans every week, whose warmth has strengthened me and make me feel stronger in the difficult moments.”

Though Casilla has the option to appeal the suspension, Phil Hay from The Athletic is reporting that the former Real Madrid goalkeeper is unlikely to.