Three-match ban for Preston North End right-back Darnell Fisher after 'genital grab'

It followed an incident in the 62nd minute of PNE's 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday last Saturday when Fisher was seen to twice grab at the genital area of Owls player Callum Paterson.

The FA charged Fisher on Monday and North End responded to that as requested and put forward the defender's case.

They observed that similar incidents in football matches had got unpunished and argued whether Fisher's actions fell into the 'violent conduct' category.

However, an FA disciplinary panel found the case proven and he will now miss the games against Watford, Bournemouth and Wycombe Wanderers.

A statement from North End said: "Preston North End defender Darnell Fisher has had his charge of violent conduct found proven by an independent FA Commission.

"The Lilywhites’ No.2 was charged with the offence after cameras captured an incident between himself and Sheffield Wednesday forward Callum Paterson that official David Webb informed the commission he did not witness.

"After being given until Wednesday at 6pm to respond to the charge, the club and player provided evidence to The FA of many previous occurrences within the game where no charge had been brought and an analysis of the violent conduct description within the Laws of the Game.

"The three-man panel, however, decided the charge was proven and the player will now miss the games against Watford, AFC Bournemouth and Wycombe Wanderers.

"As part of the club’s submission, it also explained that it had dealt with the matter internally, including making it absolutely clear to the player that he had a responsibility to the public perception of the game and to his club and that a repeat of the incident would not be tolerated."

The FA released a statement when finding the case against Fisher proven. Their statement read: "An independent Regulatory Commission has suspended Preston North End FC’s Darnell Fisher for three matches.

"The defender denied a charge for a breach of FA Rule E1 in relation to an incident during the 62nd minute of an EFL Championship match against Sheffield Wednesday FC on Saturday 21 November 2020 that was not seen by the match officials but caught on video.

"However, during a subsequent hearing, the independent Regulatory Commission found that the incident constitutes violent conduct and imposed the automatic suspension with immediate effect."

Fisher is the third player PNE have lost to suspension this weekend, with Joe Rafferty and Alan Browne banned for the Watford game - Rafferty for his red card against Blackburn and Browne for totting-up five bookings.

It leaves Alex Neil with a shortage of full-backs, with Josh Earl having missed the defeat to Blackburn and Andrew Hughes having been out with a torn hamstring since the end of October.

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