West Brom striker Jay Rodriguez has been charged by the Football Association over an incident involving Gaetan Bong in last month's Premier League match against Brighton that saw him accused of using racist language. If the charge is proven, Rodriguez would face a minimum five-match ban as an aggravated breach of FA rule E3. An FA statement read: "Jay Rodriguez has been charged following an incident during the West Bromwich Albion versus Brighton and Hove Albion match on 13 January 2018. "It is alleged he used abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race." West Brom manager Alan Pardew said after the match he found it "very difficult" to believe that Rodriguez would make a racist comment, adding: "Jay Rodriguez claims that the allegation, whatever the allegation is, is untrue."

Source: Evening echo February 08, 2018 18:45 UTC