The FA have hit Arthur Masuaku with a six-match ban after the full-back was sent off for spitting at Nick Powell during West Ham’s dismal 2-0 defeat against Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup fourth round.
Masuaku was dismissed just a few minutes after the half-time restart when he reacted to a minor buffeting from Powell by gobbing on the Latics midfielder.
Hammers boss David Moyes was quick to denounce the 24-year-old’s conduct as “despicable” after the match, with Masuaku similarly swift in issuing an apology.
— Arthur Masuaku (@ArthurMasuaku) January 28, 2018
The FA have now confirmed that Masuaku will serve a mandatory six-match ban, meaning that he won’t be available for selection until the 18th March – West Ham’s home tie against Manchester United.
Of course, spitting is foul and should be punished heavily. It just always seems odd that violent, potentially leg-breaking lunges (*cough, cough*) don’t seem to carry the same weight.
Football and it’s taboos, eh?