MORE: Video - Jara jabs Cavani in the backside
A member of the Uruguay coaching staff has claimed Chile defender Gonzalo Jara told Edinson Cavani his father was “going to get 20 years in prison” in an attempt to provoke the PSG forward.
On Sunday Conmebol confirmed Jara has been handed a three-match ban for prodding Cavani’s backside with a finger, which led to Cavani being sent off for retaliation in his side’s Copa America quarter-final defeat to Chile on Wednesday.
And Uruguay assistant coach Mario Rebollo claims Jara also made remarks about Luis Cavani, who is facing a prison sentence after being involved in a traffic accident which killed a teenage motorcyclist.
“Not only did Jara touch Cavani as we saw in the pictures, but he also said something about what had happened the previous day,” Rebollo told Uruguay’s Radio Hora 25.
"He said that Cavani’s father was going to get 20 years [in prison].”
Cavani returned to Uruguay after his side’s elimination to spend time with his family.
Jara’s ban means he will miss Chile's semi-final with Peru, in addition to a possible final appearance and the start of his side's qualifying campaign for the 2018 World Cup.
A statement from the Chile Football Federation (ANFP) confirmed it had accepted Jara's suspension, but also called on Conmebol to apply the same standards when it rules on an ANFP complaint against the conduct of several Uruguayan players after clashes between the two sides towards the end of the match.
Jara’s club Mainz have already indicated they are open to offers for the defender after expressing disgust at his actions.
