FA won’t punish Ezgjan Alioski for the Burnley incident

defender

Ezgjan Alioski

made a gesture after going down under a second-half challenge by

forward

Dwight McNeil

, who apparently said something in the ear of Alioski.

The North Macedonia international then responded to McNeil’s challenge by covering his ears and sticking out his tongue by which he meant to mockingly imitate a ‘cry baby’ in response to being referred to as one by McNeil. Alioski also insisted that he had not made any form of discriminatory gesture.

An

FA

statement read:

"Based on all the available evidence in the case, the FA is not satisfied that there is sufficient evidence to charge Alioski with a breach of FA rule E3.2 and he will face no further action.

"The FA is satisfied that the complaint was made in good faith and there is no suggestion of this being an intentionally false or malicious allegation.

"All complaints and allegations of discriminatory abuse are taken extremely seriously, and the FA encourages all participants who believe that they have been subject or witness to such conduct to report it through the appropriate channels."

The FA said that McNeil did not see the gesture at the time and the complaint had been made by a teammate.

Witness statements were also taken from all relevant players and officials.

The FA added:

"While the original complainant maintained that the gesture could be perceived as discriminatory, he stated that it could also be perceived as a childish schoolyard gesture.

"Another Burnley FC player accepted referring to Alioski as a 'cry baby' and a further Burnley FC player stated that he believed Alioski was acting childishly.

"No witnesses that were interviewed conclusively believed Alioski had made a discriminatory gesture."

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