Jack Fletcher Banned For Six Games After Calling Opponent “Gay Boy” During EFL Trophy Match

Manchester United U21 midfielder Jack Fletcher has been handed a six-match ban and a £1,500 fine by the FA for using a homophobic slur during an EFL Trophy match against Barnsley last October.

In the 62nd minute of the match, Fletcher was involved in a verbal confrontation with a Barnsley player, during which the youngster said: “you’re a gay boy”.

Referee Will Davis was around one yard away from the incident and immediately issued Fletcher a red card. Asking for trouble using language like that with the ref within earshot, to be fair.

The 18-year-old, son of former United captain and current coach Darren Fletcher, admitted to an “aggravated breach” of FA Rule E3.2.

Fletcher claimed he was responding to personal jibes about his dad and twin brother, Tyler, as well as being “stamped on the Achilles” during the match.

Worse still – United’s U21s went on to lose the game 5 – 2.

Fletcher must now also attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme, and has already issued an apology, calling it a “momentary lapse of character” and clarifying he had no intention for the term to be a homophobic insult.

Manchester United’s LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, the Rainbow Devils, welcomed his apology, stating that “homophobic language has no place in football or society regardless of intention.”

There’s actually no confirmation on who the Barnsley player was or whether he’s gay or not, but I guess that’s besides the point. Lesson learned for young Jack Fletcher.

For the time the BBC apologised to a radio sports presenter for asking him sound ‘less gay’, click HERE.