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Gray tweets were ‘deplorable’
- Updated: October 17, 2016
Burnley striker Andre Gray was banned for four games after “deplorable” messages were posted by him on social media, an independent commission ruled.
Gray was suspended for misconduct last month after six separate comments were made on Twitter and included reference to sexual orientation, gender, colour and/or race.
He admitted three breaches but disputed the intent of three other messages.
Gray claimed one post, which included reference to “black girls”, was “immature and childish” but “not offensive nor racist”.
He said another tweet was a quote from another person’s post, which he found “amusing”, and a further message “was not abusive insulting and/or improper.”
The commission unanimously agreed that his comments were improper and/or brought the game into disrepute and were abusive, insulting, improper and/or indecent.
The panel, chaired by David Casement QC and included Alan Knight and Ifeanyi Odogwu, found the aggravated messages, “clearly included references as to gender and/or colour and/or race.”
“The fact remains that the comments made by Andre Gray were deplorable and must be taken …
