A rarely used Football Association rule has thrust West Bromwich Albion striker Aune Heggebo into the centre of a growing controversy over officiating standards in English football's second tier.
The Norwegian forward was handed a two-match suspension on Thursday after becoming the first player charged under the FA's rule covering deliberate deception of a match official, introduced in the 2017-18 season. The charge stemmed from West Brom's 2-1 opening-day win over Norwich City at Carrow Road.
With the score level at 0-0 and 15 minutes remaining, Jimmy Jay-Morgan whipped a fast cross into Norwich's six-yard area, beating goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic's outstretched hand. The ball fell to Heggebo, who appeared to attempt to steer it home with his foot, only for it to strike his hand and end up in the net. Referee Tim Robinson and his assistants missed the infringement, and the goal stood, putting West Brom ahead. Jay-Morgan later added a second before Mathias Kvistgaarden pulled one back for Norwich in stoppage time, but the result held.
Without VAR present in the Championship, the incident would ordinarily have gone unpunished beyond post-match grumbling. Instead, the FA moved retrospectively, charging Heggebo under Rule E3.1 for misconduct before confirming the ban this week, offering little explanation beyond a brief statement.
West Brom have strongly disputed the ruling, arguing that the ball's path was altered after deflecting off the goalkeeper, leaving Heggebo with what the club described as