The Football Association has labelled Burnley supportersâ booing of Brighton & Hove Albion defender GaĂ«tan Bong throughout Saturdayâs Premier League match at Turf Moor as âunacceptable.â Back in January, Bong accused Burnley-born striker Jay Rodriquez of racially abusing him by pinching his nose after the two players clashed during a 2-0 defeat against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns.Although Rodriguez was charged afterwards by the Football Association, the serious accusations of racism were deemed ânot provenâ earlier this month which led to both men continuing their spat.Bong stressed that he would ânever try to bring a false charge against a fellow footballing professionalâ because his âconscious is clear,â while Rodriguez, heavily in denial, insisted that âthe truth always comes out.âThe 28-year-old frontman started his career at Burnley in 2007 and scored 31 goals in 105 appearances before his ÂŁ7m move to Southampton five years later, and chants of âJay Rodriguez, heâs one of our ownâ were heard on top of the boos.A statement from the FA was released on Monday afternoon.
It read: "The Football Association considers the behaviour of some supporters on Saturday towards Gaëtan Bong to be unacceptable.
"It needs repeating, following the recent disciplinary matter, that there was no suggestion by any party involved in that case that the player made a malicious or fabricated complaint.
"The FA was wholly satisfied that the complaint was made in absolute good faith.
"Burnley and Brighton played out a 0-0 bore draw at the weekend, but both teams edged closer to their targets this season; Burnley are now just one point away from Europa League football next season while Brighton have all-but avoided immediate relegation back down to the Sky Bet Championship.
After the full-time whistle at Turf Moor, the Seagullsâ manager Chris Hughton called the Burnley fansâ behaviour âshamefulâ when speaking to the media regarding his opinion on the incident.Hughton said: "I would have to say that I thought the reaction of the Burnley supporters towards GaĂ«tan every time he got the ball was shameful, I really do.