West Brom Striker Aune Heggebo Given Two-Match Ban After Handball Goal

West Bromwich Albion striker Aune Heggebo will serve a two-match suspension after the club failed in its appeal against a Football Association misconduct charge. West Brom confirmed the outcome on Thursday, while BBC Sport reported that the disciplinary action followed the forward's goal in Saturday's Championship victory at Norwich City.

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The disputed goal opened the scoring in West Brom's 2-1 win at Carrow Road. Sky Sports reported that Heggebo converted Jimmy-Jay Morgan's low cross in the 75th minute, with replays indicating the ball struck his arm as it crossed the line. The goal stood after Norwich's appeals during the match.

Morgan added West Brom's second goal in the 87th minute before Mathias Kvistgaarden replied for Norwich in added time. The result therefore remained a 2-1 victory for Albion, but the FA subsequently charged Heggebo under Rule E3.1. The governing body's case was that he had successfully deceived a match official by handling the ball in a direct attempt that resulted in a goal.

West Brom appealed the charge on Wednesday. According to the club, the ball deflected off Norwich goalkeeper Vladan Kovacevic immediately before making contact with Heggebo's arm, changing its path and leaving the striker less than one-tenth of a second to react. Albion argued that the contact was accidental and could not reasonably be treated as deliberate deception.

A Regulatory Commission considered the matter on Thursday and upheld the charge. West Brom said it believes the case is the first of its kind in English football since a rule change made before the 2024-25 season. The club plans to ask the FA for clarification about what a player is expected to do if similar circumstances occur in future.

The suspension rules Heggebo out of Sunday's Championship game against Burnley and Wednesday's Carabao Cup second-round tie at Newcastle United. West Brom said it remains firmly supportive of the 25-year-old and pointed to his character and integrity during his time at the club, while accepting that the unsuccessful appeal leaves the two-game sanction in force.