Gray faces FA ban for ‘abusive’ tweets

BURNLEY striker Andre Gray faces a suspension after being charged by the Football Association over a series of offensive social media posts.

Gray, below, called for homosexuals to be “burned”, and made other sexist and racist comments on Twitter in 2012.

He apologised later the same day when the posts came to light on Saturday, just hours after he scored his first Premier League goal in a 2-0 victory over Liverpool.

But the forward has been charged under an FA rule that covers “abusive, insulting or improper” comments.

The FA will also look at another aspect of the rule that covers “aggravating factors” – such as remarks about sexual orientation, colour, gender or race – and which could lead to any punishment being increased. The 25-year-old striker has until next Wednesday to respond to the charge. It is understood that Gray could receive a suspension that prevents him from playing for Burnley, even though the comments were made when he was with non-League Hinckley United. Burnley manager Sean Dyche, whose side visit League Two neighbours Accrington for an EFL Cup second-round tie tonight, has backed his striker. He said: “He apologised for it immediately and said, ‘Look, I’m a different person’. “Everyone has to develop in life. Everyone has to move forward. He has shown clear signs of that over the four years.” Dyche also claimed it was impossible for clubs to vet players’ social media accounts. “It’s a tough one,” he said. “They have a private life as well. You can’t govern every inch of someone’s life.”