Coventry City Striker Faces Three-Match Suspension After FA Investigation
Coventry City's promotion push has been dealt a significant blow as star forward Brandon Thomas-Asante has been handed a three-match suspension by the Football Association for violent conduct. The 27-year-old striker will miss crucial fixtures against Queens Park Rangers, Oxford United, and Middlesbrough following the disciplinary action.
Incident Missed by Match Officials but Caught on Camera
The incident occurred during Coventry's Championship defeat against Norwich City at Carrow Road on Monday evening. Television footage clearly showed Thomas-Asante swinging his arm and making contact with Norwich defender Pelle Mattsson's face around the 34th minute of the match.
While match officials failed to spot the incident during live play, the FA launched a retrospective investigation using video evidence. The governing body determined that the forward's actions constituted violent conduct under their disciplinary regulations.
Forward Admits Charge and Accepts Standard Penalty
In a statement released by the Football Association, officials confirmed that "Brandon Thomas-Asante has been suspended for three matches following Coventry City's EFL Championship match against Norwich City on Monday 26 January."
The statement continued: "The player's behaviour around the 34th minute wasn't seen by the match officials at the time, but it was caught on video, and The FA alleged that it constitutes violent conduct. Brandon Thomas-Asante subsequently admitted the charge against him and accepted the standard penalty for violent conduct."
Manager Lampard Defends Striker's Character
Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has publicly defended his player while acknowledging the disciplinary process. Speaking about the incident, Lampard emphasized that the action was out of character for the forward.
"I've spoken to Brandon about it because it's not Brandon, it's not Brandon's personality, it's not his manner, it's not his way," Lampard stated. "He didn't mean to do it. And when I say that, it was an instinctive movement from him which we've all been guilty of if we've been on a football pitch – a moment that you can regret instantly."
The former Chelsea and England midfielder added: "Sky showed it a hundred times but the incident is the incident and I think he's going to be dealt with, he is being dealt with. That process is happening already. But I defend Brandon completely because I believe it was instinctive and he has regrets over it and that's that."
Significant Absence for Championship Leaders
Thomas-Asante's suspension comes at a critical juncture in Coventry's season. The Midlands club currently sits top of the Championship table, though their lead over second-placed Middlesbrough has been reduced to just three points in recent weeks.
The ban means Thomas-Asante will miss:
- This weekend's away fixture against Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road
- Next week's home match against Oxford United at the CBS Arena
- The potentially decisive top-of-the-table clash against Middlesbrough
Despite missing a substantial portion of the season through injury, Thomas-Asante has managed to score ten goals for Coventry this campaign, making his absence particularly significant for the promotion-chasing side.
The disciplinary action highlights the FA's continued use of retrospective punishment for incidents missed by match officials, ensuring that violent conduct is addressed even when not spotted during live play.
