Jonjo Shelvey banned for five matches

So it is official. Jonjo Shelvey will miss the next five games of the season, assuming Newcastle do not appeal the decision.

He is accused of making abusive comments in relation to ethnicity/nationality/race towards an opponent during a match. The player targeted is believed to be Moroccan midfielder, Roman Saiss.

Shelvey had denied the accusations at an Independent Regulatory Commission hearing in November, but he has been found guilty of the offence.

If Newcastle want to appeal, they have seven days to do so. Should they appeal, he will be available for the Boxing Day game at home to Sheffield Wednesday. If not, he will miss the game, as well as future fixtures against Nottingham Forest, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Rotherham United, respectively.

This news comes as a real blow for Newcastle, as the former Swansea man has been an integral part of the team in the first half of the season. He must learn from this though, and focus on getting back onto the pitch in the new year.

Racism/discriminatory language simply has no place in football.