Tranmere's Finley gets 13-game ban for homophobic slur

Sam Finley has made 37 appearances in all competitions for Tranmere Rovers this season

Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been given a 13-game ban for making a homophobic comment to an opposition player.

The midfielder, 32, admitted a Football Association charge of misconduct over a comment made to Walsall striker Jamille Matt during a League Two game in January.

Finley was sent off in the 38th minute of the game - which Tranmere went on to lose 5-1 - having been shown two yellow cards for incidents unrelated to the slur.

He has also been fined £2,000 and ordered to complete an education programme following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing.

In a statement, Tranmere said they "condemn all forms of discrimination and will deal with the matter internally".

The lengthy suspension is one match above the 12-game upper limit for an aggravated breach involving "abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour" because of Finley's past offences.

He was previously charged for a similar homophobic comment made to a referee in February 2016 while Finley was playing for AFC Fylde – which resulted in a four-match ban and fine.

Finley also received an eight-match ban and fine for making an offensive comment to a Rochdale player while playing for Accrington Stanley in April 2020.

In addition to his ban and fine, Finley, who admitted using the homophobic slur to Matt even though the match officials had not overheard it, has been ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme within four months.

Should he fail to complete the programme to the FA's satisfaction within that period, he will be "immediately and indefinitely suspended from all football and football-related activity until it is completed".