Town skipper Sam Morsy will miss Friday’s home game against QPR having been handed a one-game ban for a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following the 2-0 win away against his old club Middlesbrough earlier this month.

An FA statement reads: “Sam Morsy has been suspended for one match and fined £5,000 for a breach of FA Rule E3.1 following Ipswich Town’s EFL Championship fixture against Middlesbrough on Saturday 9th December.

“The Ipswich Town midfielder admitted that he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official in or around the changing rooms, following the completion of the fixture. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing.”

A Town statement reads: “Sam accepts the charge, and both the club and the midfielder will make no further comment.”

While the incident relating to the ban is not explained, Morsy was shown his ninth yellow card of the season in injury time by referee Dean Whitestone, a decision with which he later expressed his annoyance.

Speaking just over a week later, the Egyptian international said: “I think the Middlesbrough one, I was really disappointed, just because there was a foul, the ball’s come to me and I passed to Freddie [Ladapo] and as I passed it he [the referee] blew the whistle, so with 30 seconds left, 2-0 up, in their half, the last thing any player would do is try to kick the ball away.”

The Blues captain remains on nine bookings with a 10th leading to a two-match ban.

Photo: Matchday Images

ArnieM added 17:15 - Dec 27 Oh ffs…. Just what we needed.
1

blues1 added 17:17 - Dec 27 Surely then, every player in professional football should get a ban. They all swear at officials. See it every game.
-1

Help added 17:18 - Dec 27 Naughty Sam
1

Bazza8564 added 17:20 - Dec 27 Well he started last night and 3 days is a short turnaround so might be a blessing. Luongo and Taylor start with Humphreys and Ball on the bench
6

Karlosfandangal added 17:33 - Dec 27 How long before the 10 match thing is reset x
1

blues1 added 17:36 - Dec 27 Karlosfandangal. After game 37
0

blues1 added 17:38 - Dec 27 Another thing is, if he used foul and abusive language towards an official, why didnt the ref give him a red card?
2

TimmyH added 17:41 - Dec 27 for once blues1 I entirely agree with you, just what we didn't want with a 2 match ban probably looming shortly after! A player we would certainly miss!
1

Help added 18:02 - Dec 27 Where does it say he used foul and abusive language?? It states While the incident relating to the ban is not explained, “The Ipswich Town midfielder admitted that he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive words and/or behaviour towards a match official in or around the changing rooms, following the completion of the fixture.
0

IpswichToon added 18:16 - Dec 27 So in the frustration of getting the softest yellow card ever, Morsy ends up with a suspension to accompany it!
5

johnwarksshorts added 18:30 - Dec 27 At least he was there for us against Leicester. QPR fixture is winnable without Sam.
5

Linkboy13 added 18:38 - Dec 27 We are not the same team without him and all those fans who went to Huddersfield will testify. They were very poor but there was no drive or leadership we were very flat and lucky to get a draw. Ball and Humphreys are rarely used by McKenna which tells you he hasn't got much faith in them. I would like to see another combative midfielder signed as cover for Morsy.
5

Suffolkboy added 18:48 - Dec 27 It appears both ITFC and SM are agreed to say no more : that’s a good thing - no more ought to be said and it wouldn’t change a thing ! For the future it will be a true improvement to both see and understand the machinations behind decision making amongst the Officials and the FA. Some sort of logic and consistency will help everyone involved in the game ! COYB
1

Gforce added 18:54 - Dec 27 Without doubt a big blow to be without both Morsy and Hirst on Friday. Hopefully their replacements,(probably Taylor and Ladapo) can step up to the plate and help the team to another much needed 3 points. At least Sammy can now rest up,ready for Stoke on Monday.
3

SickParrot added 19:22 - Dec 27 I think it's clear from Sam's subsequent comments that he didn't kick the ball away and that he would expect the referee to understand why. So I can see why Sam would show his frustration to the referee. Just a pity that Sam went too far on this occasion. I am sure that Sam regrets ot now. Because Sam makes a lot of tackles he is frequently penalised for fouls and consequently gets lots of yellow cards, so he is always suspended for at least three games per season. This season it will now be at least four games. He is our leader leader and heart beat, so he is a big loss to the team. We should be able to beat QPR without him but I worry about him missing games against the better teams, especially away from home.

0

runaround added 19:25 - Dec 27 It really feels like he has been targeted. I’m sure many players coaches and managers have done this and I don’t recall this punishment happening so long after the event. Any charge of breaking FA rules usually comes a couple of days after the event. Smelly a bit fishy to me
3

OliveR16 added 19:30 - Dec 27 blues1 - um, the ref didn't give him a (2nd) yellow card because the game was over.
2

number8 added 19:37 - Dec 27 It doesn't matter if the game is over you can still get booked or sent off.
2

ChampionsofInnsbruck added 19:56 - Dec 27 EFL trying to get ensure that we aren’t promoted.
1

MagicMoe added 21:00 - Dec 27 You'll probably call me crazy, but I think Harness could take his CM spot for QPR.
-2

Gforce added 21:10 - Dec 27 Who will get the captains armband ,in Morsys absence??
0

blues1 added 21:50 - Dec 27 OliveR16. A referee can show yellow or red cards after the game has finished. Up until he's changed out of his kit, he is,still deemed as in charge. Have been several occasions where players have been carded after the final whistle.
0

pennblue added 21:51 - Dec 27 So which FA official is a Leeds fan?
0

blues1 added 21:52 - Dec 27 Championsofinnsbruck. Nothing to do with the efl. It's the fa that have banned him
1

Lightningboy added 23:12 - Dec 27 From VAR to the likes of this codswallop - unfortunately our game is run by absolute halfwits.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls