MX23RW : Tuesday, April 15 00:28:46| >> :600:226310:226310:

Fernando Forestieri "devastated" by six-game ban for racist language

Fernando Forestieri
© Reuters
Forestieri was found to have used racist language towards Mansfield defender Krystian Pearce in a friendly last summer.

Sheffield Wednesday striker Fernando Forestieri said he was "devastated and disappointed" after being handed a six-match ban by the Football Association's independent regulatory commission for using racist language.

The incident happened in a pre-season friendly last July between Wednesday and Mansfield, with Forestieri's comments made towards Stags defender Krystian Pearce sparking a brawl on the pitch.

Forestieri was acquitted in March at Mansfield Magistrates' Court of racially abusing Pearce but was charged by the Football Association in June.

The commission deemed the case against Forestieri proven on a lower burden of proof than the criminal proceedings, and the 29-year-old has also been given a £25,000 fine, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend face-to-face education.

The sanctions have been set aside with Forestieri given the right to appeal, which he immediately announced he would be doing.

In a statement on Wednesday's official website, he said: "I am devastated and disappointed with the decision of the Regulatory Commission that has been published earlier today by the FA.

"I have now been the subject of allegations of racism for over a year and it has been an extremely stressful time for both me personally and also my family in both England and Argentina.

Fernando Forestieri was found not guilty of racist abuse at Mansfield Magistrates' Court in March
Fernando Forestieri was found not guilty of racist abuse at Mansfield Magistrates' Court in March (Aaron Chown/PA)

"Whilst I was shocked and saddened to face criminal charges regarding this matter, I was equally happy to be found not guilty of those charges in March 2019 by the Criminal Court and considered that to be the end of a very distressing time. As I said at the time, I felt vindicated by the decision of the judge.

"To discover I would then have to face an FA charge was devastating. But I truly believed that these erroneous allegations would be dismissed and my good name upheld.

"I am therefore extremely disappointed, shocked and saddened that the Regulatory Commission found the FA's charge proven, despite having been acquitted before the Criminal Court and in respect of an act that I would find abhorrent if I witnessed it in any walk of life."

Forestieri continued to protest his innocence, saying: "I am not and never will be a person or a footballer who says offensive things by reference to race to my colleagues or other players, either on or off the pitch.

Krystian Pearce reported that Forestieri had used racist language towards him
Krystian Pearce reported that Forestieri had used racist language towards him (Barry Coombs/PA)

"The decision today therefore goes against everything about the person I am and the person I was brought up to be.

"It is absolutely no comfort to me that, when charging me with misconduct, the FA were very clear that they did not consider me to be racist but instead believed that I had acted in the 'heat of the moment'.

"To be prevented from playing the game of football, which I love, for six matches is a major matter in my life, but it is insignificant compared to the wider implications of the decision and the unjustified stain that it places on my character."

Forestieri has already served a three-match suspension for misconduct relating to the brawl and was also fined £25,000.

Mansfield midfielder Jacob Mellis also received a three-game ban, while both clubs were fined following the incident.

ID:366604: cacheID:366604:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:7205:
Written by
P A
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Michael Flynn in charge of Newport County on December 1, 2018
Read Next:
Flynn hails 'fantastic achievement' but demands final push for League One place
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Leeds UnitedLeeds422513482295388
2Burnley422416257134488
3Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd42267957332483
4Sunderland422113857381976
5Bristol City421616105445964
6Coventry CityCoventry42189155954563
7West Bromwich AlbionWest Brom4214181051391260
8Middlesbrough421791661511060
9Millwall421612144141060
10Blackburn RoversBlackburn42168184545056
11Watford42168185055-556
12Swansea CitySwansea42159184551-654
13Norwich CityNorwich421314156358553
14Sheffield WednesdaySheff Weds421411175664-853
15Queens Park RangersQPR421214164955-650
16Preston North EndPreston421019134351-849
17Oxford UnitedOxford Utd421212184360-1748
18Stoke CityStoke421114174354-1147
19Portsmouth421210205066-1646
20Hull City421112194150-945
21Derby CountyDerby421110214454-1043
22Cardiff CityCardiff42915184566-2142
23Luton TownLuton421010223763-2640
24Plymouth ArgylePlymouth42913204482-3840


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!