FA bans League Two player for SEVEN matches over remark

The FA bans League Two player Manny Monthe for SEVEN matches over a homophobic remark he made during a match during the 2020/21 season.

The Walsall defender has been punished after he was found to have made the derogatory comment in a league fixture.

The 26-year-old, who had been playing for Tranmere at the time of the incident, used “language that included a reference, whether express or implied, to sexual orientation” in a game against Forest Green on the 1st of May.

Monthe, who denied the charge, has also been fined £1,200 and is no unable to play any matches until the 29th of January.

WALSALL STATEMENT:

Emmanuel Monthe has been suspended for Walsall FC’s next seven matches, fined £1,200 and ordered to complete a mandatory education programme for a breach of FA Rule E3.2 that occurred while he was playing for Tranmere Rovers FC in an EFL League Two match against Forest Green Rovers FC on Saturday 1 May 2021.

The FA charged the defender for allegedly using abusive and/or insulting words towards a Forest Green Rovers FC player in the ninth minute of this match, which is contrary to FA Rule E3.1, and also alleged that this constitutes an “aggravated breach”, as defined in FA Rule E3.2, because it included a reference to sexual orientation. javascript:(function(){return;})()

Emmanuel Monthe denied the charge but an independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed these sanctions during a subsequent hearing. The written reasons for these decisions will be published in due course.

The Club will be making no further comment.

MANNY’S STATEMENT:

“I am deeply saddened by the outcome of the FA Hearing. Whilst I respect the process that the FA undertakes in such matters, I categorically deny making any such comment.

“The threshold for a proven case for the FA is ‘balance of probability’ and by its very nature this is much lower than a court of law which must be satisfied ‘beyond reasonable doubt’.

“I will serve my 7 game ban and pay the fine issued as I look to put this matter behind me.”

A Forest Green player was left disgusted with abuse aimed at him, with FGR saying at the time that they would support an FA investigation into the incident.

A Forest Green statement read: “Forest Green Rovers are disappointed to hear of alleged homophobic abuse aimed at one of our players during Saturday’s game with Tranmere Rovers.

“With football clubs and organisations switching off social media accounts in a collective protest against online abuse by fans, it was especially disappointing to have this occur on the pitch.

TRFC wrote: “Tranmere Rovers Football Club are aware of the allegation made against one of our players by an opposition player during last weekend’s match at Forest Green Rovers.

“The allegation is strongly denied by the player in question.

“Whilst the Club has a zero-tolerance policy to any form of homophobic abuse, given the strong denial of the incident we will await the outcome of any FA investigation before commenting further.”

MONTHE’S CAREER:

2013–2014 – Queens Park Rangers
2014 → Southport (loan) – 7 games (0 goals)
2014 – Whitehawk
2014 – Tonbridge Angels – 9 games (0 goals)
2014–2015 – Heybridge Swifts – 3 games (1 goal)
2015 – Hayes & Yeading United – 11 games (0 goals)
2015–2016 – Havant & Waterlooville – 14 games (0 goals)
2015–2016 → Hayes & Yeading United (loan) – 17 games (1 goal)
2016 – Bath City – 19 games (4 goals)
2016–2018 – Forest Green Rovers – 29 games (1 goal)
2018 → Tranmere Rovers (loan) – 6 games (0 goals)
2018–2021 – Tranmere Rovers – 113 games (3 goals)
2021– Walsall – 18 games (0 goals)

HONOURS:

Forest Green Rovers
National League playoffs: 2017

Tranmere Rovers
National League playoffs: 2018
EFL League Two playoffs: 2019
EFL Trophy runner-up: 2020–21

Twitter users reacted as the FA bans League Two player Manny Monthe for SEVEN matches over the remark…

@DanHaye37604571: That’s not really fair on us

@PrentonParkAndy: Club would of known about it.

@JoeStephenson96: Using the logic in these replies it sounds like criminals should be able to get away with their crimes by simply moving house

@Dazzapass: We have just got to get on with it.

@JHancock46: Dodged a bullet by not signing him a few years ago then

@ReeceDSport: The whole punishing Walsall thing for something when he was at Tranmere argument is so flawed. Are the FA supposed to not ban him for homophobic abuse because he moved club?

@rjb_1998: In bits at all the quotes and replies crying about ‘walsall being punished for something he did when he wasn’t at the club’ as if the FA should just give a random tranmere player who wasn’t homophobic a 7 game ban 😭😭

@RFreem_: 7 games without the best ball playing centre back in England is gonna be tough. Punishment is fair but shouldn’t impact a club he wasn’t playing for when it happened

@TomJebb8: We knew about this when he signed for us. He got his punishment. Move on and get on with it. It is what it is!

@AyrtonFtGolding: Absolutely deserved.

@DMCG1991: Should have just fined him. Why should we be affected for something we weren’t involved in as a club?

@luxetrobur: That’s really disappointing news about a player who was well liked by Tranmere fans. Just shows how much work still needs to be done to make football a more inclusive environment. Fortunately though I do feel as a sport we are heading in the right direction

@KevSaddler: Should have been longer.

@HallyMk1: don’t be homophobic.

@lcpjones94: Hopefully he learns from this mistake people say things in the heat of the moment and he has to pay. I know it could affect us but hopefully Ash Taylor can do a job for us because he’s more then capable.