Manchester United’s young talent, Jack Fletcher, the son of former player Darren Fletcher, has been charged by the Football Association (FA) for using a homophobic slur during a match last October.
The incident took place during the under-21s’ 5-2 loss to Barnsley in the Carabao Cup, where the 18-year-old was overheard by the referee referring to an opponent with the derogatory term “gay boy.”
As a result, Fletcher received a six-match suspension, two of which he has already served after receiving a red card in that game. The remaining four matches (non-first team) were imposed for what the FA deemed an ‘Aggravated Breach.’
Both the FA and Fletcher’s opponent agreed that he did not aim to cause offense with his comment.
Manchester United stated that Fletcher has since expressed remorse and clarified that he did not mean the term as a homophobic insult.
“I sincerely apologize for the offensive word I used in the heat of the moment,” Fletcher said. “Although I never intended for it to be perceived as a homophobic remark, I understand that such language is unacceptable and I immediately apologized after the game.”
The club announced that Fletcher will work on enhancing his understanding of discriminatory language and its implications. “In addition to participating in regular diversity and inclusion programs, Jack will undergo educational training facilitated by the FA,” the statement on their website noted.
“Manchester United takes pride in being an inclusive and welcoming club. Since the launch of our All Red All Equal initiative in 2016, we have integrated equality, diversity, and inclusion into everything we do.”
The teenager, who joined United in 2023 from Manchester City along with his twin brother Tyler, has made three substitute appearances in the Premier League this season and is regarded as one of the club’s top prospects.
A recent social media post from Rainbow Devils, United’s LGBTQ+ supporters’ group, expressed support for Fletcher’s apology. “We hope Jack learns from this experience and grows both as a person and a player,” they stated. “His immediate regret and acknowledgment of guilt suggest that he will.”
Additional reporting by ESPN’s Rob Dawson.