'Devastated' Leeds United goalkeeper Kiko Casilla responds to racism ban after FA charge is proven

The verdict of a two-day FA hearing into the racism charge, which stemmed from comments allegedly made by the Spaniard in Leeds' game at Charlton back in September, was announced tonight, on the eve of the Whites' clash with Hull City tomorrow.

An independent regulatory commission found the allegation to be proven and Casilla has been banned for eight games with immediate effect.

He has also been hit with a £60,000 fine and will have to undergo 'face to face education.'

The former Real Madrid man has released a statement tonight in response to the FA's verdict, in which he thanked Leeds United for their support and put on record his views on racism.

"I feel truly sad and devastated for being accused of making supposedly a racist comment during last September's match versus Charlton," he said.

"Firstly I want to express firmly that racism should not be tolerated neither in football, sports or in any other field in our society.

"With respect to the FA, I fully respect and understand the obvious process to be taken to prosecute any accusation of racism. In fact, I totally agree with any prosecution in order to eliminate any trace of racism in our sport. Nevertheless I would sincerely like to mention that the last five months have been the most difficult ones in my professional career, and I do not feel at all that the guilty verdict is a clear reflection of the incident.

"I am sure that my family, friends, colleagues and the different technical teams who I have been working with for all these years in my professional career know I would never use my words with a racist meaning, and my respectful behaviour towards my opponents since I started my career has been honest and with the maximum sense of fairplay.

"I would like to deeply thank my club, Leeds United for its support during all this time, and above all, I appreciate the support of our amazing fans every week, whose warmth has strengthened me and made me feel stronger in the difficult moments."

Casilla's unavailability means French teenager Illan Meslier will make his Championship debut for Leeds tomorrow at Hull City in the day's early kick-off.