Edinson Cavani 'finger in anus' row: Chile star Jara banned

Gonazalo Jara, the Chilean defender who got an opponent sent off at the Copa America after sticking his finger up his backside, has been banned for the rest of the tournament.

The player has also been accused of verbally goading Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani shortly before appearing to ram his middle finger into the striker's anus.

The Uruguayan raised his hands after the altercation with Jara, prompting the defender to fall to the floor claiming he had been struck in the face.

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At the time his theatrics appeared to have paid off as Cavani was shown a second yellow card and dismissed, while Chile went on to win the match. But things have not worked out well for Jara since then.

"Jara's gesture was the main talking point from the match and has been dubbed 'the finger of God' in Chile, an echo of Argentina captain Diego Maradona's infamous 'hand of God' goal from the 1986 World Cup," reports the Daily Telegraph.

He has now been suspended for "unsporting behaviour" by the South American football authorities, and will miss Chile's semi-final and either the final or third-placed play off, while his club side in France, Mainz, have told the former Nottingham Forest and West Brom player that he can leave, reports the Daily Mirror.

Jara has also been criticised for reportedly telling the Uruguayan that his father would spend 20 years in jail after a car crash that claimed the life of a motorcyclist.

Cavani's father was arrested over the fatal accident crash a week ago, and the player was so upset he almost left the tournament.

Edinson Cavani sent off after 'finger in anus' row - video

25 June

Chile marched into the semi-finals of the Copa America after a stormy clash with Uruguay, who finished the game with nine men, with the main talking point afterwards an incident involving Chilean defender Gonzalo Jara that led to the dismissal of striker Edinson Cavani.

The Uruguayan forward was sent off for lashing out at Jara in the second half, shortly before Mauricio Isla scored the only goal of the game for Chile. But the Daily Telegraph believes Cavani's actions may have been understandable, as footage appears to show Jara "attempting to provoke the star by inserting a finger into his anus".

The Daily Mirror takes explains the bizarre incident thus: "The ex-West Brom defender appeared to stick his finger up Cavani's backside – before the striker retaliated and struck him in the face. Jara went to the ground theatrically as ugly scenes unfolded, with Cavani shown a second yellow card after getting booked for dissent in the first-half."

The paper notes that Jara has previous when it comes to Uruguayan strikers. In 2013 Luis Suarez punched Jara after the Chilean apparently grabbed his genitals during a World Cup qualifier.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez was fuming after the game, having been sent to the stands in the latter stages, and accused the referee and linesman of failing to spot Jara's action.

Cavani almost left the Uruguay squad this week when his father was arrested after being involved in a fatal car crash, but he chose to remain with the team.

After his dismissal Chile gained the upper hand and Isla scored the winner after 81 minutes.

"Uruguay self-destructed after falling behind," reports the BBC. And in the final stages Jorge Fucile was dismissed for a wild two-footed challenge on Alexis Sanchez. "The match was then halted for several minutes after Uruguay's players surrounded the referee and linesman and officials and players from both sides scuffled on the field."

The Independent notes that Uruguay's latest melt-down came a year to the day after Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup.