LONDON (AFP) - Burnley striker Andre Gray will serve a four match suspension after being found guilty of misconduct for homophobic comments he posted on Twitter in 2012, England's Football Association announced on Friday (Sept 23).
The 25-year-old published the tweets when he was a non-league player, but they resurfaced on social media after he scored in Burnley's 2-0 home win over Liverpool in the Premier League last month.
One tweet read: "Is it me or are there gays everywhere? #Burn #Die #Makesmesick."
Gray admitted he had breached FA regulations for three of the six postings he was called to account for but denied the others were - the FA thought otherwise.
"Burnley forward Andre Gray has been suspended for four matches commencing with immediate effect for misconduct in respect of social media comments," read the FA statement.
"It was alleged that six postings on his Twitter account were abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute contrary to Rule E3(1).
"It was further alleged that these breaches of Rule E3(1) included a reference to sexual orientation and/or gender and/or colour and/or race contrary to Rule E3(2).
"The player admitted to three of the breaches, and denied the remaining three were in breach of FA Rules.
"Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing yesterday (22 September 2016), the remaining three breaches were found proven.
"The player was also fined £25,000 (S$44,000), warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an FA education course."
Gray, last season's Championship Player of the Year, had apologised prior to being charged with misconduct when they came to light.
In his apology, posted on Twitter, Gray wrote: "I have a lot of regrets regarding a number of things I've done in the past and realise I have made some big mistakes, none more so than these tweets, but I would like to stress that I've worked incredibly hard to completely transform my life since that time.
"To clarify, I do not hold the beliefs written in those tweets whatsoever.
"I can assure everybody that I am absolutely not homophobic and as said previously I can only apologise and ask for forgiveness to anyone I offended."
