Tranmere's Finley gets 13-match ban

Tranmere Rovers midfielder Sam Finley has been handed a 13-match suspension for using homophobic language towards an opponent. The incident occurred during Walsall's 5-1 win over Tranmere in January. Finley admitted to the referee that he had called Jamille Matt a homophobic term.

What happened?

Finley's language was deemed "abusive and/or insulting and/or improper" by the FA, constituting an aggravated breach as it included a reference to sexual orientation.

Why it matters for Tranmere

The ban is a significant blow to Tranmere, who are currently 21st in League Two with 41 points from 46 games. Their recent form has been DLWLD, with their last result being a 1-1 draw against Grimsby on 2026-05-02.

What comes next?

Finley has the right to appeal the decision and must attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme. The 32-year-old's suspension will be a significant loss for Tranmere, who are 46 points behind leaders Bromley.