Morecambe midfielder's suspension is explained by the Football Association

The Football Association has released the written reasons behind the punishment handed out last week to Morecambe midfielder Yann Songo’o.
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The 29-year-old was handed a six-game ban and ordered to complete a mandatory online education course following his straight red card against Tranmere Rovers at the end of January.

After launching an investigation, the FA concluded he used ‘abusive and/or insulting language towards an opponent’ which also constituted an aggravated breach as defined in FA Rule E3.2 as it included a reference to sexual orientation.

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Songo’o admitted the charge last month but, having already sat out two matches as a result of his dismissal, the ban covered Morecambe’s next four games.

Morecambe midfielder Yann Songo'o has half his six-game suspension left to serveMorecambe midfielder Yann Songo'o has half his six-game suspension left to serve
Morecambe midfielder Yann Songo'o has half his six-game suspension left to serve
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That meant he missed last weekend’s win at Harrogate Town and will be unavailable for the upcoming games with Cheltenham Town, Cambridge United and Southend United.

The FA has now revealed that the incident in question was triggered by a Tranmere player going down with a head injury.

The game was stopped while a physio came on and a minor verbal disagreement between players ensued, during which referee Paul Howard said he heard Songo’o use a homophobic slur and sent him off.

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Songo’o, who apologised last week through the club’s website in response to the FA’s findings, offered a witness statement to the regulatory commission.

The document said: “He expressed considerable remorse and explained that, because English is not his first language, he had not appreciated the offence which his comment would cause.

“He said that the reason he had made the comment was because the opponent in question had moved close to him. When YS (Songo’o) asked what he was doing the opponent said he was going to kiss him on the lips.

“YS indicated that he felt he had let himself, his team and his club down and insisted that it would not happen again.”

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In handing down the suspension, the commission noted it was Songo’o’s first breach, it had been admitted at an early opportunity and remorse had been expressed.

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