Thorup reacts to Sainz's six-game ban for spitting incident

Norwich City head coach Johannes Hoff Throup has been speaking to the press ahead of the Canaries' FA Cup third round tie at home to Brighton on Saturday (15:00 GMT).

He spoke about the Football Association suspended City's Borja Sainz for six games and fined him £12,000 after he admitted spitting at Sunderland's Chris Mepham in the match on December 21, 2024.

Here are some key points from the press conference:

• On Sainz ban: "It's a lot of games, but when you behave like that you have to expect to be suspended."

• Thorup said: "When you are dealing with inexperienced players in their best season ever it comes with a responsibility that there will be a different approach from the opposition. It's clear he's found that hard to deal with."

• Thorup on second viewing of incident: "There's an argument between them and he (Sainz) runs past and there's a movement towards him (Mepham). It should never happen again."

• The head coach says Sainz "definitely stepped over the line."

• In other news, striker Josh Sargent is in contention to play against Brighton. He has been absent since November after undergoing surgery on a groin injury.

You can listen to full live commentary of Norwich City v Brighton in the FA Cup with BBC Radio Norfolk on FM, DAB and BBC Sounds.

Kick off is at 15:00 GMT on Saturday.