Kyle Lafferty has been hit with a ‘substantial fine’ and faces a potential 10-match ban over a viral video uploaded in September.
The former Premier League and EFL footballer is facing a Scottish Football Association ban of ten games after being charged over his ‘sectarian language’ video.
The Kilmarnock striker has been issued with a notice of complaint from the compliance officer after a clip shared on social media appeared to show the frontman using the term ‘fenian bastard’ when tricked by a Celtic fan in a nightclub.
This derogatory slur is usually used to insult Catholics, Irish people or Celtic supporters, or some combination of all three, mostly heard in the UK.
Kyle Lafferty, what a guy 🤣 pic.twitter.com/brfT8NBIKA
— . (@LundstramLoyall) September 21, 2022
He has been charged a breach of disciplinary rules 77 and 81 on the new SFA protocols.
The first talks of “threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour” while the second governs “race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability” and carries a MANDATORY ten game ban if he is found guilty of the offence.
A hearing date has now been confirmed with the SFA of Thursday October 20th – with the player set to be out until the turn of the year if the case against him is proved.
Kilmarnock were quick to announce that they had launched a probe into the incident.
And now club boss McInnes admitted the club were liaising with the Scottish FA when he was quizzed on the subject at today’s press conference.
BREAKING: Kilmarnock Football Club has concluded its investigation into an alleged comment made by Kyle Lafferty, Lafferty has been issued with a ‘substantial’ fine. pic.twitter.com/8cPBgs10X1
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) September 29, 2022
He said he couldn’t confirm as of yet whether the player would be in the squad for the weekend clash against McInnes’ former team Aberdeen.
He said: “We are conducting our own investigation and we are in consultation with the SFA.
“I am not able to say anymore until the investigation is over, we will need to wait and see what happens.”
McAuley, who shared a dressing room with him at club and international level, insists the whole situation could have easily been avoided.
He said: “The photo opportunity was a complete stitch up and it appears that’s how some people get their kicks these days.
“But Kyle appears to have responded out of embarrassment and being the butt of a joke.
“What he should have done was smile and say nothing.
“Deep down be fuming, but rise above it.
“Instead, Kyle appears to give the reaction those with a camera wanted and more.”
A statement added: “The club can confirm that Kyle regrets his actions and acknowledges that he has let down himself, his family, the club and the supporters.
“Kilmarnock Football Club has subsequently taken internal action, including the serving of a substantial fine.
“The club has also engaged Scotland’s leading anti-sectarian charity, Nil By Mouth, which will work closely with Kyle on a one-to-one basis, in addition to delivering training to our first team squad and academy squad members, to provide education which the charity believes is key to tackling sectarianism in society.
“Kyle has also committed to supporting the club’s community projects which will see him participating in Nil by Mouth’s educational initiatives, in addition to serving Kilmarnock’s ‘Football for All’ programmes on a weekly basis for the foreseeable future.”
The club added they would co-operate fully with the Scottish FA’s investigation.
Lafferty was axed from the Northern Ireland squad for their recent Nations League fixtures against Kosovo and Greece, with manager Ian Baraclough stating that a back injury had also been considered when the decision was made. He also claimed the incident wasn’t necessarily the end of Lafferty’s international career.
Fans had their say as Kyle Lafferty gets hit with a ‘substantial fine’ and faces a 10-match ban over the viral video…
@CliffMc84:
John Gudetti – no punishment
Scott Brown – no punishment
Kyle Lafferty – 10 game ban
What’s the difference???
@MadTop1984: So @KilmarnockFC are condoning sectarian abuse by not sacking Kyle Lafferty. Says a lot.
@quadtreble1:
10 games 😂😂😂
Career done 😅
@stuartsnowden77: Lafferty deserves his punishment. Yet @ScottishFA turn a deaf ear and blind eye when supporters of clubs belt out sectarianism week-in, week-out that’s picked up on broadcast TV. The same songs punished by UEFA when they’re sung in European games. Batter the wee clubs.
@TrueBluesLoyal1: How can he be charged by the sfa for a non football related incident as it’s outwith the football pitch
@CraigyBhoy18: He should never play football in Scotland again. Horrible person.
@KilmarnockBible: I imagine this spells the end of Kyle Lafferty’s Kilmarnock career, and rightfully so. Under the new laws his suspension requires a minimum of 10 games. Can’t afford to keep him on when he’s not gonna feature until December at the earliest.
@kennedybrodie1: Find it mental that Racists get a lesser ban than what he’s facing if found guilty 🤷🏼♂️
@FraserDuncan91: Kyle Lafferty. A player who, on his day, has the ability to score brilliant goals and cause havoc. Unfortunately, his head has been full of the latter for his entire career. Total waste
@2clubs1love: Sectarian language needs cutting out. Action was needed. Maybe the @ScottishFA authorities can now stop turning a blind eye and open ears to what happens on a weekly basis at certain grounds?? A precedence has been set now so take more action! #sfa
@CP1872: Getting to not play with Killie for 10 games is the reward his staunch behaviour deserves.
@dawross: Remember that time Stevie Clarke called sectarian language out by a full fan base in his press conference and the authorities did absolutely nothing…
@allyferguson: Not backing him up, but it never happened on a football pitch. So if someone gets charged with assault or drunk driving, do they get a ban aswell? 🤷🏼♂️
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