Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has been charged by the English FA over his tweet to teammate Benjamin Mendy. Silva is expected to face up to a six-match ban should he be found guilty.
The FA alleges that Silva’s tweet, which compared Mendy to the character on packets of Conguitos chocolates, was insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute; and that it included reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or color and/or ethnic origin.
The Portuguese midfielder has until October 9 to respond. He has previously expressed regret, in a letter to the FA at any unintentional hurt he may have caused and Benjamin Mendy has offered his support.
Pep Guardiola said last week that “Bernardo is maybe going to take a lesson and it’s not going to happen again” and defended Silva’s character.
“If they believe, if the people believe, that Bernardo is this type of player they are completely wrong,” City’s manager said. “They judged one joke, I judge three years every single day with him and how he is and his friendship. Nothing more to add.
“It was just a joke. It’s a cartoon and the face is quite similar. The same happened a thousand million times with white people.”
Should he be found guilty, it could be a blow for Pep Guardiola’s side who are already without star midfielder Kevin De Bruyne with an injury and defender Aymeric Laporte who is out for six months with knee ligaments damage.