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Daily Mirror
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
EFL star hit with 13-MATCH ban for 'discriminatory abuse regarding sexual orientation'
Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been hit with a lengthy suspension and a fine after he was found to have made a homophobic comment during his side's 5-1 defeat to Walsall League Two midfielder Sam Finley has received a 13-match suspension after he admitted to making an "abusive and/or insulting" comment towards Jamille Matt during a game between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall in January. The Tranmere star was sent off in the first-half of the game after picking up two yellow cards in quick succession, with Walsall going on to win the game 5-1 after Matt netted a brace. Finley has also been hit with a £2,000 fine and is required to complete an education programme following a hearing by the Football Assocation's independent regulatory commission. An FA statement read: "An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a 13-match suspension, £2,000 fine and mandatory education programme on Sam Finley for a breach of FA Rule E3 during the EFL League Two fixture between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall on Saturday 11 January 2025. "It was alleged that the midfielder's language towards a Walsall player around the 23rd minute was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper contrary to FA Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that this constitutes an 'aggravated breach', which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to sexual orientation. "Sam Finley subsequently admitted the charge against him. The Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing." In a statement, Tranmere said the club "condemns all forms of discrimination and will deal with the matter internally". Players who are found guilty of an "aggravated breach" of FA rules regarding "abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour" typically receive a ban of between six and 12 games. However, Finley has been hit with a 13-match suspension because of previous offences. The 32-year-old was previously banned for four games and fined £250 back in 2016 after he was found to have made a homophobic comment towards a referee while playing for AFC Fylde. He also received an eight-match ban and an £850 fine after he was found to have made an offensive comment towards a Rochdale player while he was at Accrington Stanley in 2020. Tranmere are battling to stay up and currently sit four points above Carlisle United with two league games remaining. They will be back in action on Saturday when they host Crewe Alexandra and Tranmere boss Andy Crosby is confident his side have what it takes to stay up. "It will be great to be back home on Saturday, the crowd have been amazing with us home and away," Crosby said after Tranmere's 0-0 draw with Barrow on Monday. "We want Prenton Park rocking. "I want the crowd to be right behind the players. Those feelings aren't going to go away, they're going to intensity, but we've got good players and I want them to play with some freedom, to be themselves, trust themselves, be creative in the final third. "The players are giving everything. They desperately want to do so well for the club. Eleven games we set out what we wanted to do – no points total, just prepare for the next game, and that's exactly what we'll do for Saturday."
Daily Mail
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mail
EFL star banned for 13-MATCHES and fined £2,000 after admitting to FA charge of misconduct for homophobic slur
Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been handed a 13-match suspension and fined £2,000 by the FA for making a homophobic comment to an opposition player. The 32-year-old has also been ordered to attend an education programme after admitting a charge of misconduct for a statement made to Walsall striker Jamille Matt during a League Two match in January. Finley was sent off in the 38th minute of the clash - which Tranmere went on to lose 5-1 - after picking up two yellow cards. In a statement, the FA said: 'An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a 13-match suspension, £2,000 fine and mandatory education programme on Sam Finley for a breach of FA Rule E3 during the EFL League Two fixture between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall on Saturday 11 January 2025. 'It was alleged that the midfielder's language towards a Walsall player around the 23rd minute was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper contrary to FA Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that this constitutes an 'aggravated breach', which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to sexual orientation. 'Sam Finley subsequently admitted the charge against him.' The midfielder has received one match more than the 12-game upper limit for an 'aggravated breach' because of his past offences. In 2016 he was handed a four-game suspension and fined for making a homophobic remark to a referee while playing for AFC Fylde. He was also banned in 2020 for eight matches - reduced from 11 - for an offensive comment to a Rochdale player. Following Finley's latest suspension, Tranmere said they 'condemn all forms of discrimination and will deal with the matter internally'. The Liverpudlian, who has played 37 times this term, will now be unavailable for the club's final two fixtures as they attempt to remain in the Football League.
Metro
25-04-2025
- Sport
- Metro
Footballer receives 13-match ban for homophobic slur towards opponent
Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been given a 13-game suspension for making a homophobic comment to an opposition player. The 32-year-old admitted using 'abusive and or insulting' language towards Walsall forward Jamille Matt during a League Two match on January 11. Finley was sent off during that game after just 38 minutes as Tranmere went on to lose 5-1. The Tranmere midfielder has accepted the charge, which has resulted in the Football Assocation handing him a significant suspension, plus a £2,000 fine. He has also been ordered to complete an education programme. The lengthy ban is one game above the 12-match limit for an aggravated breach involving 'abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour' because of Finley's previous offences. In 2016, Finley received a four-match ban and a fine for a homophobic remark to a referee while playing for AFC Fylde. Finley was also banned for eight games for an offensive comment to a Rochdale player when he was playing for Accrington Stanley in April 2020. A statement from the FA read: 'An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a 13-match suspension, £2,000 fine and mandatory education programme on Sam Finley for a breach of FA Rule E3 during the EFL fixture between Tranmere Rovers and Walsall on Saturday 11 January 2025. 'It was alleged that the midfielder's language towards a Walsall player around the 23rd minute was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper contrary to FA Rule E3.1. More Trending 'It was further alleged that this constitutes an 'aggravated breach', which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference – whether express or implied – to sexual orientation. 'Sam Finley subsequently admitted the charge against him.' A statement from Tranmere read: 'Finley's suspension will begin immediately. He has also been fined £2,000 and ordered to complete an education programme. 'The club condemns all forms of discrimination and will deal with the matter internally. ' For more stories like this, check our sport page. Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. MORE: Eni Aluko apologises to Ian Wright for suggesting he is 'blocking' female pundits in women's football MORE: Liverpool vs Tottenham: Latest team news, predicted lineup and injuries MORE: 'I love working with him' – Chelsea goalkeeper receives clear transfer message
The Herald Scotland
25-04-2025
- Sport
- The Herald Scotland
Tranmere midfielder Sam Finley suspended for 13 games for using homophobic slur
The length of the ban reflected the fact Finley has twice previously been banned for aggravated breaches of Football Association Rule E3. An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a 13-match suspension, £2,000 fine and mandatory education programme on Tranmere Rovers' Sam Finley for a breach of FA Rule E3. Full statement and written reasons: — FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) April 25, 2025 The FA had sought a six-month ban, but the independent commission hearing the case opted to impose a 13-match sanction. In determining how many matches Finley should be banned for, the commission accepted as mitigation that the slur was only used once, and was not premeditated. The panel also recognised that Finley had taken anger management courses with Sporting Chance of his own volition, and that the impact of those courses could be seen in the 'significant reduction' in the number of yellow cards he had shown in the 20 matches since he started compared to the 20 matches before. Finley was also fined £2,000 and ordered to undertake an education course. He has the right to appeal against the sanction. Club statement: Sam Finley — Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) April 25, 2025 Tranmere issued a statement saying they condemned all forms of discrimination and would deal with the matter internally. Finley's abusive slur was reported by Matt to the referee, Jeremy Simpson, who had not heard it. Simpson asked Finley about the incident after the match and he admitted he had used the slur. Finley was banned for four matches for using the same slur towards a referee while playing for AFC Fylde in February 2016, and suspended for eight matches for calling a Rochdale player a 'pikey' while playing for Accrington in January 2020.
South Wales Guardian
25-04-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Tranmere midfielder Sam Finley suspended for 13 games for using homophobic slur
The 32-year-old admitted using the abusive and discriminatory language towards Walsall's Jamille Matt during a match in January. The length of the ban reflected the fact Finley has twice previously been banned for aggravated breaches of Football Association Rule E3. An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a 13-match suspension, £2,000 fine and mandatory education programme on Tranmere Rovers' Sam Finley for a breach of FA Rule E3. Full statement and written reasons: — FA Spokesperson (@FAspokesperson) April 25, 2025 The FA had sought a six-month ban, but the independent commission hearing the case opted to impose a 13-match sanction. In determining how many matches Finley should be banned for, the commission accepted as mitigation that the slur was only used once, and was not premeditated. The panel also recognised that Finley had taken anger management courses with Sporting Chance of his own volition, and that the impact of those courses could be seen in the 'significant reduction' in the number of yellow cards he had shown in the 20 matches since he started compared to the 20 matches before. Finley was also fined £2,000 and ordered to undertake an education course. He has the right to appeal against the sanction. Club statement: Sam Finley — Tranmere Rovers FC (@TranmereRovers) April 25, 2025 Tranmere issued a statement saying they condemned all forms of discrimination and would deal with the matter internally. Finley's abusive slur was reported by Matt to the referee, Jeremy Simpson, who had not heard it. Simpson asked Finley about the incident after the match and he admitted he had used the slur. Finley was banned for four matches for using the same slur towards a referee while playing for AFC Fylde in February 2016, and suspended for eight matches for calling a Rochdale player a 'pikey' while playing for Accrington in January 2020.
