West Brom's Morrison Defends Heggebo After Ban

The Incident

During the opening match of the Championship season, West Bromwich Albion secured a 2-1 victory over Norwich City. A cross from Jimmy-Jay Morgan struck Heggebo’s hand as it entered the net, giving Albion the lead. The Norway international forward, 25, was subsequently charged with “deception of a match official,” the first such charge since the rule was introduced in the 2017-18 season. The FA handed Heggebo a two-match ban for the offence.

Morrison's Response

West Brom head coach James Morrison spoke to BBC Radio WM, describing the ban as “opening a can of worms” for the FA. He insisted the incident was accidental, noting that Heggebo had no intention of deceiving the referee. Morrison said, “He’ll be looking at the cross when it came in, it flicked from the goalkeeper’s hands into him.” He added that Heggebo would not have run to the referee to admit a handball, stating, “He’s not that type of person.” Morrison also highlighted that the charge had been perceived as calling Heggebo a cheat, which the coach said was unfounded.

Implications for the Season

Morrison called for consistency from the FA throughout the season, stating, “If they’re going to do it, we accept it, but they’ve got to be consistent throughout the season.” He emphasized that the club would deal with the ban as long as the disciplinary process remained fair. The ban’s timing, early in the campaign, raises questions about how the club will manage Heggebo’s absence in key fixtures.

Heggebo's Absence

The 25-year-old missed the 3-1 loss to Burnley on Sunday, a match that saw Albion drop points. He will also be unavailable for the Carabao Cup tie away to Newcastle United on Wednesday at 19:45 BST. The suspension removes a primary goal-scoring threat from West Brom’s attacking options for the next two matches.

Looking Ahead

Morrison’s comments underline the club’s stance that the ban was a procedural error rather than a punitive measure for misconduct. The situation has prompted the FA to review the application of deception rules, with West Brom calling for a clear and consistent approach as the season progresses.