Ex-Fifa official verdict on extended ban for Ashley Barnes after ‘big’ Burnley development
Ashley Barnes will likely not receive a ban for his comments after scoring a brace as Burnley beat Blackburn Rovers 3-0 last month (13 November), according to Keith Hackett.
Speaking exclusively to Football Insider, the ex-Fifa and Premier League referee suggested Barnes will instead receive a “big fine” and a “slap on the wrist” after he was formally charged by the FA.
The 33-year-old referred to Burnley’s local rivals as the “b*******” in an interview with the BBC after the game.
The FA confirmed last week (30 November) that the striker had been charged with using “abusive and/or insulting” language in the interview.
Asked for his verdict on a possible punishment for Barnes, Hackett told Football Insider correspondent Connor Whitley: “I don’t think it will be a ban, I think it will be a fine and a slap on the wrist.
“The reality is, there is a responsibility, to some degree, on the broadcast company to have a bleep button. If a comment of that type is made, instead of glorifying it and working with it and putting that player in trouble, surely they should bleep it out.
“If Ashley Barnes does get a big fine, will he be prepared to do interviews in future? I guess not.
“Because the television broadcast goes around the world, that’s the problem even though it might be a local saying and nothing’s meant by it.”
The win for Burnley over Blackburn put them at the top of the Championship table going into the break for the World Cup.
They return to action at the weekend (11 December) when they host QPR who are now without a manager following Michael Beale’s return to Rangers.
In other news, Arsenal have set their sights on two January signings as a £50million raid is plotted.