Video: Cavani sent off for slapping Gonzalo Jara after cheeky poke from Chilean

Edinson Cavani’s reaction to this poke from Gonzalo Jara got him sent off

The Copa America has not been a great tournament, both professionally and personally, for Uruguay’s Edinson Cavani. The striker was sent off against hosts Chile in the quarter-finals after the referee thought he had ‘slapped’ Gonzalo Jara on the cheek.

The whole situation between Jara and Cavani started to develop when the Chilean initially tussled with the latter and patted him twice on the cheek. Following a free-kick which was quickly taken, the two of them came together again, this time though, they seemed to be on more amicable terms, as the defender again patted the Uruguayan, and things seemed to cool down.

What Cavani didn’t seem to like was Jara constantly getting very physical with him and poking him in the backside and proceeded to return the favour, with a slight caress of the Chilean’s cheek. The next thing that happened shocked everyone, as the centre-back dived like he had been hit by a knockout punch, and the referee showed the red card to the striker Cavani.

Watch the incident here:

Highlights of the game –