Chile defender Gonzalo Jara has been banned for the rest of the Copa America after he "inserted a finger into Edinson Cavani's anus", it has been reported.

The 29-year-old Mainz defender, who has previously played for West Brom, Brighton and Hove Albion and Nottingham Forest, was caught on TV provoking Uruguay striker Cavani following a confrontation between the two.

After referee Sandro Ricci spoke to the pair to try and dissolve the feud, Jara went back towards Cavani and shockingly tried to put his finger in Cavani’s anus, with the Paris Saint-Germain responding by glancing the face of Jara.

Despite the little contact between Cavani’s hand and Jara’s chin, the Chile international flung himself theatrically to the floor, and Ricci issued a second yellow card to Cavani having already booked him in the first half for a foul on Arturo Vidal, meaning Cavani suffered the ignominy of being sent-off a year to the day after Luis Suarez bit Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup.

Gonzalo Jara falls down after clashing with Edinson Cavani (Getty Images)

Cavani clashes with Chile players after his red card (Getty Images)

Cavani won’t face a Copa America suspension given that Uruguay went on to lose the game 1-0 and suffer quarter-final elimination, but it appears that Jara’s tournament is also over. South American journalist Juan Arango has reported that Jara will be banned for the remainder of the tournament for his actions, with official confirmation set to come later today over whether Jara will face disciplinary action.

“Huge blow: Gonzalo Jara suspended for remainder of Copa América after altercation tonight. #developing,” Arango said on Twitter.