14 Nov Manchester City forward Bernardo Silva banned for offensive tweet

Manchester City midfielder Bernardo Silva has been suspended for one game for what the English Football Association has deemed an “aggravated breach” of their social media policy.

Silva was also fined £50,000 for a tweet sent on September 22, which appeared to reference the race of teammate Benjamin Mendy.

In the tweet, which was posted and deleted shortly after, Silva compared Mendy to a character on a packet of Conguitos, which is a chocolate brand available in Spain and Portugal.

The Portuguese forward then tweeted his bemusement at the initial reaction to the social media post, insisting it was just a joke between teammates.

"Many persons would have taken offence to the content,” the FA’s report read.

"The player did not himself intend the post to be insulting or in any way racist. It is clear that the tweet was intended to be no more than a joke between close friends.

"However, this was not a private communication between two friends.
"The post was on a social media platform exposed to the 600,000 followers of a high-profile and well-respected professional footballer.

"Many persons viewing the imagery depicted in the tweet would have taken offence to the content as being insulting by reference to race, colour and ethnic origin in a way that unquestionably brings the game of football into disrepute."

Can’t even joke with a friend these days… You guys… 🤦🏻‍♂️

— Bernardo Silva (@BernardoCSilva) September 22, 2019

Silva admitted to the charge on October 2, with Manchester City confirming they won’t lodge an appeal against the finding.

The pair, who also played together at Monaco, have traded frequent light-hearted social media barbs in recent times.