West Brom’s Rodriguez charged with racial abuse charge by FA
LONDON — West Bromwich Albion forward Jay Rodriguez was charged by the English Football Association on Thursday with racially abusing an opponent during a Premier League game.
The England international, who faces a five-game ban if found guilty, denies the charge.
“Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in,” he wrote on Twitter.
Rodriguez was seen pinching his nose and saying something to Brighton defender Gaetan Bong, who is black, after an on-field confrontation during the Jan. 13 game at The Hawthorns. Bong, a former Cameroon international, alerted the referee moments later.