West Bromwich Albion's Aune Heggebø will serve a two-match suspension after an appeal against a charge of misconduct was unsuccessful. The 25-year-old will be unavailable for the Sky Bet Championship fixture against Burnley on Sunday and the Carabao Cup second-round tie at Newcastle United on Wednesday.
What happened?
The FA on Tuesday charged Heggebø with a breach of Rule E3.1 in relation to his goal at Norwich City on Saturday. The charge is believed to be the first of its kind in English football, following a rule change prior to the 2024/25 season.
Why it matters for West Bromwich Albion
The club appealed on Wednesday, stating the ball took a deflection from the goalkeeper immediately before making contact with Heggebø’s arm, which materially affected the ball's trajectory and left him with less than 0.1 of a second to react. Given the accidental nature of the handball, the club argued it could not be reasonably viewed as a deliberate act of deception.
What comes next?
On Thursday, the matter was placed before a Regulatory Commission, which upheld the charge. The club will now write to the FA requesting clarification on how a player is reasonably expected to react should similar circumstances arise in the future. With the team currently 21st in the Championship, 51 points from 46 games, and 44 points behind leaders Coventry, West Bromwich Albion remain steadfast in their support of Aune, whose character and integrity have been evident throughout his time at The Hawthorns. The team has scored 48 goals this season, while conceding 58, resulting in a -10 goal difference.
