Norwich winger Borja Sainz could have faced a longer ban for spitting on Sunderland defender Chris Mepham
According to the written findings of an independent regulatory committee, Norwich winger Borja Sainz might have been subject to a lengthier penalty than his six-game suspension for spitting on Sunderland defender Chris Mepham.
Sainz was accused of spitting at a Sunderland player, later identified as Mepham, during the second half of the Sky Bet Championship game on December 21, which resulted in the Canaries losing 2-1 at the Stadium of Light.
Sainz, who leads the Championship with 15 goals but has failed to score in his last eight games, was subsequently charged with a disciplinary offence by the Football Association for what would have been a sending-off offence if the referee had seen it. After accepting the charge, Sainz, 23, sent a statement via Norwich expressing regret for his actions and to Mepham. The written reasons for the case were released on Tuesday afternoon, and it was disclosed that the commission panel had contemplated imposing a longer suspension for Sainz’s behavior after “one of the worst things that can be done to a fellow professional.”
“He (Sainz) stated that the opposing player, like other players, had been trying to get a reaction from him during the game, and that he had also been receiving heavy tackles,” the commission panel’s assessment said.
First of all, the idea that the Sunderland player had shoved him without cause was not accepted. This interaction was free of force. He was positioning himself for the upcoming free-kick.
Second, it most definitely did not justify Mr. Sainz spitting on the Sunderland player’s shoulder, which was what happened next.
Fortunately, there aren’t many instances of this kind in the game. From a professional standpoint, it is among the worst things that can be done to a colleague or to anyone else.
“It is entirely unacceptable and correctly warrants a substantial sanction.” The panel added: “The commission were minded to impose a higher sanction, but recognised that Mr Sainz had admitted the charge, expressed genuine contrition and that this admission had avoided a hearing.” Sainz’s ban sees him miss a run of Championship fixtures which includes Wednesday night’s trip to leaders Leeds, managed by former Norwich head coach Daniel Farke, and the winger will not be available again until the visit of Preston on February 11. In December, Norwich saw captain Kenny McLean handed a retrospective four-match suspension for violent conduct during the 3-0 defeat at QPR.
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