03/04/26 12:58:00
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03/04 12:56 CST Man United player suspended for making homophobic insult
Man United player suspended for making homophobic insult
By JAMES ROBSON
AP Soccer Writer
MANCHESTER, England (AP) --- Manchester United midfielder Jack Fletcher has
been suspended for six games for making a homophobic insult about an opponent,
the club said Wednesday.
Fletcher, 18, was shown a red card by the referee during a reserve match
against Barnsley on Oct. 21.
According to details of the incident published by the English Football
Association this week, he admitted to calling an opponent a "gay boy."
Fletcher, who is the son of former United player Darren Fletcher, was charged
with an aggravated breach of the FA's rules regarding insulting words or
behavior because the alleged comments referred to sexual orientation.
He was given the standard minimum ban of six games, fined around $2,000 and
ordered to take part in educational training.
Fletcher, who is the son of former United player Darren Fletcher, apologized
for the incident.
"I am truly sorry for the offensive word that I used in the heat of the
moment," he said in a statement. "Despite the fact that I had no intention to
use the term as a homophobic insult, I completely understand that such language
is unacceptable and immediately apologized after the game."
United said it had worked with Fletcher to "strengthen his understanding of
discriminatory language, and why it is harmful."
It said Fletcher had served three games of the suspension.
Fletcher's father won five Premier League titles and the Champions League
during a distinguished career with United. He has gone on to hold numerous
roles at the club, including technical director, and was recently interim coach
after Ruben Amorim was fired in January. He is currently an academy coach.
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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson
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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
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