West Brom confirmed their loanee was banned for two games for simulation but some Forest fans were angered by their statement.
West Bromwich Albion striker Dwight Gayle has been hit with a two-match ban after accepting a Football Association charge of “successful deception of a match official” following his side’s 2-2 draw with Nottingham Forest on Tuesday night.
The charge pertained to the 28-year-old, who is on loan at West Brom from Newcastle United, having committed an act of simulation to win a penalty in the 89th minute of the Championship game at The Hawthorns.
Gayle went down in the box, supposedly under a challenge from Alexander Milosevic, and referee Lee Mason awarded a spot kick to the hosts, although replays showed there was no contact between the two players.
Forest, who were leading by one goal at the time with injury time approaching, were pegged back as Jay Rodriguez successfully converted from 12 yards, leading to a point apiece and a lot of criticism on social media, as was seen on this WBA Twitter update and elsewhere on the social media platform.
“The club supports Dwight’s view that he was attempting to avoid anticipated challenges in the 89th-minute incident which led to a penalty award for Albion,” read their statement. “Although disappointed with the outcome, Albion have regrettably concluded any appeal would be fruitless.”
After West Brom announced the news on their Twitter page, there weren’t any tears shared by the Nottingham Forest contingent, as shown by some Reds fan responses – indeed, their statement outright angered some:
Gayle – who has 16 goals in 27 games so far for Albion this term – will now miss Championship games against Aston Villa and Queens Park Rangers, before becoming available again against Sheffield United on Saturday, 23 February.
FA rules introduced in 2017 allow players to be retrospectively charged if they win a significant advantage by diving, and footballers found guilty face a two-game ban.
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