Manchester United’s Jack Fletcher given six-match ban for homophobic slur

• Incident took place at EFL Trophy game with Barnsley

• Player ‘truly sorry for the offensive word that I used’

Jack Fletcher has received a six-game ban and been fined £1,500 for calling a Barnsley player a “gay boy”, with the Manchester United midfielder apologising for the homophobic slur.

Fletcher made the comment when playing for United Under-21s in October’s 5-2 EFL Trophy loss at Oakwell. On 62 minutes Fletcher said to an unnamed Barnsley player “you’re a gay boy”, according to the testimony of Will Davis, the referee, who subsequently sent the 18-year-old off. Fletcher admitted the charge, with both the opponent and the FA regulatory commission accepting his assertion that he did not wish to be intentionally homophobic.