Gills' McCleary gets two-game ban for simulation
Garath McCleary will serve a two-match suspension for simulation after he won a late penalty that salvaged a 2-2 draw for Gillingham at Bromley
- Published
Gillingham winger Garath McCleary has been handed a two-game ban for simulation to win a controversial penalty that rescued a late draw against Bromley.
The 38-year-old went down under a challenge from Ravens goalkeeper Grant Smith in the fourth minute of added time, with Bromley heading for the win at Hayes Lane.
Max Clark netted the penalty to equalise four minutes later and secure a controversial 2-2 draw for the visitors.
Bromley boss Andy Woodman called the decision to award the penalty "disgusting" but Gillingham say they "refute the claim 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," the club said in a statement on their website., external
"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."
Gillingham managing director Joe Comper said: "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 28.8km/h [17.9mph].
"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."
'A clear act of simulation' - FA
Goals from Nicke Kabamba and Michael Cheek had put the hosts 2-0 up at half time, before Josh Andrews hit back for Gillingham early in the second half.
The moment of controversy came from a long kick upfield from Gills keeper Glenn Morris, which bounced through for McCleary to chase under pressure from Bromley midfielder Ben Krauhaus.
There was slight contact from the Brentford loanee on the edge of the box before McCleary ran through and appeared to move his right leg out to initiate contact before connecting with the goalkeeper's head with his knee.
The Football Association described it as a "clear act of simulation" and which "amounts to improper conduct".
McCleary will miss Gillingham's next two matches - at home to Notts County on Saturday and away to Newport County the following weekend.
Bromley boss Andy Woodman described the decision to award the penalty as 'disgusting'
In his pre-match press conference before Bromley's visit to Oldham Athletic, manager Andy Woodman described the decision to award the spot kick to Gillingham as "disgusting" and criticised the level of refereeing he had seen so far this season.
"I have had an email again saying about the penalty, apologising and saying about the handball at the other end, that we should have had a penalty," he told BBC Radio London.
"I don't think I can keep being silent. I find it hard when you're getting decisions that are so bad and so ridiculous, it's very hard to keep playing the narrative of 'it evens itself out in the end'. I don't buy that.
"I just want a fair playing field, I want the refs to do their job. They're allowed to make mistakes, of course they are, [but] I think the mistakes we're getting at the moment is not valid."