Gray receives four match ban.

Last updated : 23 September 2016 By The Editor's Chair

Clarets' striker Andre Gray will serve a four match suspension after being found guilty of misconduct for homophobic comments he posted on Twitter in 2012.

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Photo source: Burnley Football Club.

It was announced today, the English Football Association have banned Burnley's Andre Gray for the next four games.

Gray's ban is immediate and he will now be unavailable for the Clarets' next Premier League home game at home to Watford on Monday evening and he will miss a further three fixtures against Arsenal, Southampton and Everton.

The offending Twitter comments dated back to 2012 when Gray was still at non-league Hinckley United.

The remarks were revealed within hours of Gray's first Premier League goal against Liverpool on Saturday, August 20.

Why Burnley Football Club must suffer for historic comments made by a player who was not even playing for his present club is way beyond my comprehension.

In the wake of an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing yesterday, Gray was addtionally fined £25,000 and warned as to his future conduct. He was also ordered to attend an FA education course. 

Sean Dyche already under pressure to stave off a relegation battle, must now do it without his star striker for the next four games.

Patrick Bamford in the enforced absence of Gray, will now get the opportunity to show what he can offer on the top table of English football.

This punishment is unprecedented given the lapse in time between the offence and the time of retribution.

One must wonder if one of the supposed Premier League's bigger teams' players would have suffered the same brutal punishment? (TEC).