Southampton defender Jack Stephens has been banned for 2 matches and handed a £50,000 advantageous after calling an official a “f***ing little c***” after being despatched off in opposition to Manchester United.
Stephens was proven a straight purple card by referee Stuart Attwell within the 79th minute of final month’s Premier League match at St Mary’s following a foul on United ahead Alejandro Garnacho.
The 30-year-old membership captain, admitted to swearing at fourth official Gavin Ward and Attwell as he made his method off the pitch.
Ward testified at an FA regulatory fee that Stephens known as him a “f***ing little c***” earlier than the defender briefly returned to the pitch to cross on the captain’s armband after which made his method again down the tunnel, the place he mentioned to Ward: “You’re a c***.”
Attwell additionally testified that Stephens had known as him “a c***” after being proven a purple card.
Stephens, who joined Southampton in 2011, issued a “honest apology” for his behaviour at to the fee. He added: “I bitterly remorse my alternative of language. The language I used is out of character for me.”
Stephens acquired a straight purple card and a three-match ban for his problem on Garnacho final month (Ryan Hiscott/Getty Pictures)
The centre-back referenced his place as captain and his roles throughout Southampton, together with as coach of their under-16 group, to focus on the “further accountability” which he felt in an ambassadorial function.
Stephens mentioned that whereas the environment within the match was “extremely charged”, he didn’t intend to harm Garnacho with the problem and he felt he may “cease the breakaway” of a United counterattack.
After being proven the purple card, Stephens informed the fee: “When the choice was confirmed I used to be upset. I did one thing that I’m very disenchanted with myself for. I do know the significance of accepting a referee’s choice however as a substitute I spoke to him saying one thing that I might not usually say. I then used that language once more to Mr Ward.
“This isn’t an excuse, however it was within the warmth of the second and I used to be not aggressive in direction of both of the officers and didn’t argue with them and left the pitch, returning solely to cross on the captain’s armband.”
Stephens has already missed the membership’s Carabao Cup match in opposition to Everton and league video games in opposition to Ipswich City and Bournemouth by the three-match suspension for critical foul play because of the problem. He’ll now miss Southampton’s journey to Arsenal on October 5 and the house match in opposition to Leicester Metropolis on October 19.
Issues go from dangerous to worse for Southampton as Jack Stephens is shipped off for this problem on Alejandro Garnacho 🟥
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— Soccer on TNT Sports activities (@footballontnt) September 14, 2024
(Ryan Hiscott/Getty Pictures)
