Gillingham FC acknowledge today’s announcement from The FA that Garath McCleary will serve a two-match suspension as a result of the incident in the 94th minute of our league fixture away at Bromley last weekend.
Both the club and Garath strongly refute the claim that there was a deliberate attempt to deceive the match official. Garath has been a professional footballer for the best part of 20 years, in which time he has never received even a caution for simulation or any similar offence. Whilst we accept there may be a debate as to whether a penalty should have been awarded or not, to suggest any wrongdoing on Garath’s part seems unfair and inappropriate.
Managing Director, Joe Comper, said: “We’re both frustrated and disappointed in the decision by the FA to charge Garath and the subsequent Regulatory Commission to uphold the decision. There is very little precedent for this sort of punishment, especially when it was acknowledged by a member of the panel that Garath could have been awarded a foul in the build up to the incident that has knocked him off balance whilst running at 28.8kph."
He continued, saying "We must accept the decision and adapt accordingly, but we do look forward to seeing the same energy put into investigating future incidents across the EFL this season when the referee’s decisions are questionable."
Gillingham FC will make no further comment on the matter.
