Scotland keeper Angus Gunn is facing a ban after ‘acting in an improper manner’ whilst playing for Norwich City.
The FA have given Gunn 48 hours to respond to the charge which relates to the Canaries’ 3-0 defeat to QPR earlier this month, where the stopper was furious after referee Anthony Backhouse ignored claims for a foul in the build-up to the home side’s second goal. It alleges that the 28-year-old, who started all three games for Steve Clarke’s side at Euro 2024, ‘acted in an improper manner around the tunnel area at half time of this fixture’ and they have given Gunn until Thursday December 19 to respond.
If found guilty he could face a ban, joining international teammate Kenny McLean on the sidelines after he was given a four match suspension for an incident in the same game which was also missed by the officials at the time. A statement from the FA said: “Angus Gunn has been charged with misconduct following the EFL Championship match between Norwich City and Queens Park Rangers on Saturday 7 December. The goalkeeper allegedly acted in an improper manner around the tunnel area at half time of this fixture, and he has until Thursday 19 December to respond.”
Last week Gunn’s teammate McLean – who had been linked with a move to Rangers in the summer – was banned for four games after being found guilty of violent conduct in the same game, the 48 times capped midfielder was charged after an incident in the 24th minute of the defeat that was missed by the referee at the time. An FA statement said: “The midfielder’s behaviour during the 24th minute of the game wasn’t seen by the match officials at the time, but it was caught on camera, and The FA subsequently alleged that it constitutes violent conduct.
“Kenny McLean denied this charge against him and submitted that the automatic penalty is excessive if found proven. The independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed his sanction following a hearing. Its written reasons will be published in due course. The sanction is four matches rather than three as it is Kenny McLean’s second dismissal this season.”
It will be McLean’s second four match ban this season after he was found guilty of using ‘abusive and/or insulting words’ towards a match official following a red card against Middlesbrough. At the time Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup told the BBC: “I think if we go back to the situation, if it had been a yellow card, even the opposition would have said ‘ok, fine’. But it was a red and ended up with four games without playing, that’s a tough one. He’s also Scottish and he says so many things during the day I don’t understand.”