Jay Rodriguez has maintained his innocence despite the FA charge made against him on Thursday afternoon.
Rodriguez was officially charged by the Football Association after being accused of racially abusing Brighton & Hove Albion defender Gaeton Bong during a Premier League game last month.
During a heated altercation between Rodriguez and Bong at the Hawthorns in the middle of January, Rodriguez is said to have used “abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race.”
Referee Martin Atkinson reported the incident, claiming that he saw Rodriguez pinching his nose during an exchange with Bong.
Both players have made their cases at respective hearings since the game before, on Thursday, Rodriguez was officially charged but his club remain fully behind the forward.
“As a Club we remain fully supportive and committed to backing Jay throughout this process,” said Richard Garlick, Albion’s Director of Football Administration.
In the wake of the FA announcement, Rodriguez took to social media to reiterate his claim that he was innocent, announcing that he would take legal action to protect his reputation.
Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in. I 100% deny the false allegation and will take the correct legal advice to prove my innocence.
— Jay Rodriguez (@JayRodriguez9) February 8, 2018
He wrote: “Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in. I 100% deny the false allegation and will take the correct legal advice to prove my innocence.”
