The Uruguayan Academy of Literature has jumped to the defence of Manchester United striker Edinson Cavani after his three-match ban this week.

Uruguayan football is shocked by the FA's ruling, which came after a social media post from Cavani to a close friend.

The forward was suspended, fined and ordered to attend an 'education programme' for using the word "negrito" in the post.

In a statement, the Academy declared:

“The English Football Association committed a serious injustice to the Uruguayan athlete ... and showed their ignorance and error in deciding to use the language, in particular Spanish, without paying attention to all its complexities and context.

"In the context in which Cavani wrote the message, the only meaning that can be given to the word "negrito" is affectionate."