Newcastle United are set to appeal Jonjo Shelvey’s five-game ban and £100,000 fine after being found guilty of racially abusing Wolves midfielder Romain Saiss, reports The Guardian.
Shelvey’s ban relates to an incident in the 87th minute of Newcastle’s 2-0 defeat to Wolves on 17 September in which the midfielder is alleged to have called Saiss, a Moroccan midfielder, ‘a smelly Arab’.
Despite being hit with an immediate five-game ban by the Football Association and being ordered to attend an FA education course, Shelvey maintains his innocence in the situation and Newcastle will reportedly appeal his ban.
While Newcastle are keen to back one of their most important players, Rafa Benitez is concerned that losing an appeal would add extra games to his ban, which could rule Shelvey out of their top-of-the-table clash with Brighton at the end of January.
Only Conor Hourihane (9) and Tommy Smith (7) have registered more assists than Shelvey (6) in the Championship this season.
For more stats on Jonjo Shelvey, click here to visit his WhoScored player page
