Manchester United academy star Jack Fletcher has been slapped with a six-match ban after using the term ‘gay boy’ in an EFL Trophy match earlier this season.
The 18-year-old was shown a straight red card away to Barnsley back in October and there was a great deal of confusion that night regarding his dismissal.
But the Football Association has now published details from the disciplinary hearing which has come down hard on the United youngster for his offence, which he did not dispute.
Jack, whose dad Darren made 223 appearances for United and was their caretaker manager earlier this season before returning to his full-time role working with the Under 18s team, has broken into the club’s first team this season with three Premier League appearances.
The FA’s report detailed how, in the 62nd minute of the match, Fletcher was involved in a verbal confrontation with a Barnsley player following a Barnsley goal. The identity of the Barnsley player has been redacted.
Referee Will Davis was around one yard away from Fletcher when, he told the hearing, he heard the United youngster shout ‘you’re a gay boy’ towards his Barnsley rival.
Fletcher did not dispute that he said it but, by way of explanation, stated that, during the second half of the match, he had been subjected to two separate off-the-ball fouls including being thrown to the ground in the build-up to a goal and, shortly thereafter, being stamped on the Achilles while the ball was not in play.
Fletcher explained during his written submission that he raised the latter incident with the referee and attempted to remain calm, but following Barnsley’s third goal the redacted opponent made comments to him about his father Darren, as well as his twin brother Tyler.
In response to those perceived jibes, Fletcher admitted to saying: ‘You seem to know a lot about me, are you a gay boy?’.
The disciplinary panel supported Fletcher’s claims of physical contact, particularly on his Achilles, as supported by video evidence.
But breaches of FA Rule E3.2 range between six to twelve matches, with six matches operating as the minimum.
In a statement today, Fletcher said: ‘I am truly sorry for the offensive word that I used in the heat of the moment. Despite the fact that I had no intention to use the term as a homophobic insult, I completely understand that such language is unacceptable and immediately apologised after the game.
‘I want to be clear that this momentary lapse of character absolutely does not reflect my beliefs or values.’
Fletcher expressed remorse for the homophobic language and stated in interview that the words were used ‘in the heat of the moment when he was angry and frustrated’ by incidents during the match.
He added that he is not homophobic, does not normally use such language, and did not intend the remark to be an intentional homophobic insult.
The one-off nature of the remark also came as part of Fletcher’s defence, claiming that he himself did not believe the United youngster was making an intentional homophobic insult, instead just trying to ‘slag off’ an opponent without clear thought.
Along with a six-match ban and £1,500 fine, the FA imposed that Fletcher must attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme, which must be completed before June 2, 2026 or he risks an indefinite suspension from the game until it is completed.
