Chile defender Gonzalo Jara was thrown out of the Copa America on Sunday over his attempt to shove his finger into the backside of Uruguay striker Edinson Cavani, the Chilean Football Federation confirmed.

A statement said Jara had been suspended for three matches following a disciplinary hearing by South American football's ruling body CONMEBOL into the lurid flashpoint during last week's quarter-final.

"The Chilean Football Federation has been informed of the suspension for three matches of Gonzalo Jara by the disciplinary committee of CONMEBOL," the statement said.

"We regret this sanction but we will accept it," the federation added in the statement on its website.

The ban rules Jara out of Chile's semi-final with Peru on Monday as well as the final if the hosts progress that far.

Jara triggered a wave of revulsion and condemnation over his bizarre assault on Cavani, who was sent off for retaliating as a result.

Reverse angle television footage and photos of the incident showed Jara appearing to jab a finger into Cavani's backside.

It was the latest controversial incident involving Jara and an Uruguayan opponent. In 2013, Uruguay striker Luis Suarez punched him after the Chilean appeared to grab his testicles during a World Cup qualifier.