West Ham United star banned for Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Mohammed Kudus will be unavailable against Arsenal after having his red-card suspension extended by two games, the FA have confirmed.

West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus is mobbed by teammates after scoring the team’s fifth goal during the UEFA Europa League round of 16 second leg football match between West Ham United and SC Freiburg at The London Stadium, in east London on March 14, 2024. (Photo by IAN KINGTON/AFP via Getty Images)

The FA published a statement on Wednesday to confirm that both West Ham United and Mohammed Kudus have been handed additional sanctions in relation to the incident surrounding the player’s red card against Tottenham Hotspur.

Kudus initially picked up a straight red and a three-match ban, but the FA charged him with acting in an improper manner and/or using violent conduct after the offence that he was sent off for.

Kudus admitted the charge, earning an additional two-match suspension and a £60,000 fine.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mohammed Kudus of West Ham United warms up prior to the UEFA Europa League 2023/24 round of 16 second leg match between West Ham United FC and Sport-Club Freiburg at the Olympic Stadium on March 14, 2024. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The additional two matches are significant to Arsenal, as they mean he’ll miss the match against the Gunners later this month.

The initial three-match ban was due to end after this weekend’s game against Everton, but the extension will see Kudus miss Newcastle United and Arsenal too.

To some extent, Kudus is fortunate to miss just an extra two games. The disciplinary commission trio had started at a baseline of three additional games, with one of the three members arguing the number should actually be increased to four or more.

But the other two members disagreed, citing Kudus’ sincere apology, the fact he had accepted the charge against him, and the fact he had a clean disciplinary record prior to this incident. They ultimately overruled the dissenting member and reduced the ban to two extra games.

West Ham United’s Mohammed Kudus (L) vies with Arsenal’s Jakub Kiwior (R) during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Arsenal at the London Stadium, in London on February 11, 2024. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

As well as Kudus’ sanction, West Ham admitted to a charge of failing to ensure their players didn’t behave in an improper and/or provocative and/or violent way around the incident, and they were fined £30,000.