Burnley striker Andre Gray suspended for 2012 tweet

  • 24/09/2016
Andre Gray (Getty Images)
Andre Gray (Getty Images)

By Brad Lewis

Burnley striker Andre Gray has been given a four-match ban for comments he made about homosexuals on social media four years ago.

The 25-year-old had been charged by the English Football Association for bringing the game into disrepute over homophobic posts he made on Twitter in 2012.

Following an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing on Thursday, Gray was also fined, warned as to his future conduct and ordered to attend an FA education course.

The striker has apologiosed for the social media posts in which he appeared to condone the killings of gay people.

The tweets emerged soon after Gray had accused two home fans of shouting racist abuse, calling the pair "ignorant" who "lived in the stone ages"

Burnley striker Andre Gray suspended for 2012 tweet

Andre Gray celebrates with teammates after scoring against Liverpool last month (Getty Images)

Burnley striker Andre Gray suspended for 2012 tweet

(Photo source - Twitter)

Gray wrote in a statement, "First I want to offer a sincere and unreserved apology to anybody I may have offended in relation to these tweets. The tweets were posted four years ago when I was a completely different person to the man I am now.

"I was at a very different point in my life back then – one that I’ve worked hard to move on from.

"I have experienced a lot over the past four years and have had to take responsibility for a number of things in my life which has enabled me to mature and grow as a person."

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