The Football Association has confirmed that Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been handed a thirteen-game ban for making a homophobic comment to Walsall striker Jamille Matt.The 32-year-old admitted to a charge of misconduct over a comment made during a meeting between the Saddlers and Tranmere back in January, during which the midfielder was sent off in the first half after being shown a second yellow card.
Finley has also been fined £2,000 and ordered to complete an education programme following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing, with the lengthy suspension is one match above the 12-game upper limit for an aggravated breach involving “abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour” because of Finley's past offences.
According to various reports, he was previously charged for a similar homophobic comment made to a referee in February 2016 when playing for AFC Fylde – which saw him given a four-match ban.
Finley also received an eight-match ban, reduced from eleven, and fine for making an offensive comment to a Rochdale player while playing for Accrington Stanley in April 2020.
