The English Football Associated has on Wednesday, October 2nd 2019 charged Portuguese and Manchester City midfielder, Bernardo Silva with misconduct over an alleged racist tweet he sent to his Manchester City team-mate Benjamin Mendy.
Bernardo Silva likened his French teammate Mendy to the character used by Conguitos, a Spanish chocolate peanut brand which is also sold in his native Portugal. The Tweet which both Bernardo Silva and manager Pep Guardiola, and even Mendy said was a joke, saw the English FA charging the Portuguese for committing what they called an ‘aggravated breach’ of FA rules as the message referred to a fellow player’s ‘race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin’.
Pep Guardiola when the news broke a few days ago about a possible suspension of his player, had said this during a pre-match press conference about the whole situation. He said:
‘Regarding Bernardo, I was incredibly clear. If they believe that Bernardo is this type of player, they are completely wrong,’ he said. ‘They judge on one joke, I judge on every day and how he is, his friendship over three years. Nothing more to add. We judge intentions and I know the intention of Bernardo. ‘Maybe he saw the comments and thought “I don’t want to be involved in that” and deleted it. ‘It was just a joke. Benjamin is like a brother to Bernardo and it’s the same the other way. It’s what I see every day in training.
‘If someone is affected or feels bad about that tweet or any comments, it can happen. People judging Bernardo don’t know him. ‘He’s an exceptional person, exceptional. He likes to be involved in different situations. It was just a joke. The same happened a thousand times with white people. It was a cartoon. ‘If people think it’s the opposite, then Bernardo and City are open to talking about it. But put the focus on other things, not Bernardo. ‘If someone is offended, I can understand it. Bernardo is maybe going to take a lesson and it won’t happen again.’
Bernardo Silva since the incident has written to the FA to formally apologise for the tweet and could face a six-match suspension. He has until October 9 to appeal the FA’s charge.
‘Bernardo Silva has been charged with misconduct for a breach of FA Rule E3 in relation to a social media post on 22 September 2019. ‘It is alleged that the Manchester City player’s activity breaches FA Rule E3(1) as it was insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute. ‘It is further alleged that the activity constitutes an
“Aggravated Breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3(2), as it included reference, whether expressed or implied, to race and/or colour and/or ethnic origin.’