Gonzalo Jara Reportedly Banned From Copa America After, Uh, Inappropriately Touching Edinson Cavani

This incident was BEYOND below-the-belt.
Uruguay's Edinson Cavani, center left, argues with Chile's Gonzalo Jara, 2nd right, during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Cavani was expelled from the game after receiving a double yellow card. Chile won the match 1-0 (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Uruguay's Edinson Cavani, center left, argues with Chile's Gonzalo Jara, 2nd right, during a Copa America quarterfinal soccer match at the National Stadium in Santiago, Chile, Wednesday, June 24, 2015. Cavani was expelled from the game after receiving a double yellow card. Chile won the match 1-0 (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Chilean soccer player Gonzalo Jara has reportedly been banned for the remainder of Copa America after he, how do we say this, inappropriately touched Uruguayan striker Edinson Cavani during Wednesday night's match between the two countries.

Forget below the belt. Jara's actions were worse than that, and they came during the 63rd minute of the game.

Cavani, understandably frustrated, reacted by slapping Jara in the face. However, it was the Uruguayan striker who received a yellow card from the refs, which led to his ejection since he had already been handed a separate yellow card before the match.

Remaining on the field was Jara, whose actions went unseen by officials. Jara's team also went on to secure a 1-0 victory against Uruguay, who were reduced to 10-men. With the win, Chile will now go on to play in the Copa America semifinals.

Addressing the Jara-Cavani incident after the game, Uruguay manager Oscar Tabarez told Sky Sports to simply look at the tape. "For the expulsion of Cavani, you can see what happened and what the challenge was. I refer you to the television and photos of it, it is all there," Tabarez said.

Jara hasn't escaped punishment for his actions though. According to soccer reporter Juan Arango, he's been banned for the remainder of the tournament.

But perhaps even most disturbing is that this isn't even the first time Jara has assaulted another player as such.

In March 2013, he touched Luis Suarez's genitals during a World Cup qualifying match, causing Suarez to react by punching Jara in the face. Neither player was punished for the scuffle.

Chile will face the winner of Friday's match between Bolivia and Peru in the Copa America semifinals.

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