Jay Rodriguez’s attempt to clear his name after a Football Association charge of allegedly racially abusing Brighton’s Gaëtan Bong will start on Wednesday, when the West Brom forward appears before an independent commission at a Wembley hearing that will also be attended by Alan Pardew.
Rodriguez strenuously denies the allegation that he used “abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race” during the game at the Hawthorns on 13 January. The former Southampton striker claims he merely referenced the Cameroon defender’s “bad breath”.
Rodriguez and West Brom were shocked when the FA announced in February it was bringing a case against the player who had already been interviewed by the governing body and has maintained his innocence throughout. FA officials have also spoken to other West Brom and Brighton players, including Bong.
Pardew, who lost his job as the West Brom manager last week after a miserable run of results that leaves the club all but resigned to relegation, has been supportive of Rodriguez from the moment Bong’s allegations surfaced.
West Brom have made their stance clear in a statement. Richard Garlick, the director of football, said the club are “fully committed to backing Jay throughout this process”. Rodriguez is also expected to call on former managers for character references as he seeks to prove his innocence.
A three-person independent commission, made up of football and legal experts, will hear evidence from both sides. Rodriguez, who joined West Brom from Southampton for £12m last summer, faces a minimum five-match ban which would rule him out for the rest of the season.
