Aune Heggebo given two-match ban after West Brom lose appeal over Norwich handball goal | OneFootball

West Brom striker Aune Heggebo has been handed a two-match ban after his appeal against an FA charge over a handball goal at Norwich was rejected.

He will miss Sunday’s Championship home opener against Burnley and next Wednesday’s EFL Cup trip to Newcastle, according to ExpressAndStar.com. It is believed to be the first suspension of its kind in English football under a rule change made two years ago, before the 2024/25 season.

Heggebo had put Albion ahead at Carrow Road in a 2-1 win last Saturday when Jimmy-Jay Morgan’s cross deflected in off the forward’s hand. Norwich players appealed but referee Tim Robinson and his assistants allowed the goal.

The FA charged the Norwegian on Tuesday for a breach of rule E3.1, alleging he successfully deceived a match official by handling the ball in a successful attempt to score.

Albion argued the ball deflected off goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic, altering its trajectory and leaving Heggebo less than 0.1 seconds to react, so the contact was not deliberate. A regulatory committee on Thursday upheld the charge.

The club said they will write to the governing body to seek guidance on player expectations around deflections and reaction times. They added they continue to back Heggebo, citing his character and integrity during his time at The Hawthorns.

The episode has fuelled debate about the goal and whether VAR should come to the Championship. West Brom have previously had Dwight Gayle banned retrospectively in 2019 and Brandon Thomas-Asante suspended for violent conduct in January 2023.

Source: ExpressAndStar.com

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