What does Heggebo’s deception ban mean for football?

August 21, 2026 No Comments

What does Heggebo’s deception ban mean for football?Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Aune Heggebo joined West Brom from Norwegian side SK Brann for an undisclosed fee in July 2025ByNeil JohnstonBBC Sport journalistPublished7 minutes agoIt is 0-0 between Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion with 15 minutes remaining in the opening game of the season at Carrow Road. Baggies forward Jimmy Jay-Morgan crosses it into Norwich’s six-yard box at pace, flying by the outstretched hand of Canaries keeper Vladan Kovacevic and into the path of Albion striker Aune Heggebo.The Norwegian jumps, seemingly trying to guide it in with his foot but it hits his hand instead and flies into the net.Did he mean to handball it? Hard to tell at the speed it all happened.Norwich players protest, but referee Tim Robinson and his assistants did not see it and the goal is given.West Brom lead 1-0 in the Championship match. Morgan doubles the lead before Mathias Kvistgaarden scores a 90th-minute consolation for the hosts. In a league without Video Assistant Referees (VAR), apart from the lingering unhappiness at the decision which contributed to West Brom’s 2-1 win, that is normally the end of it.

But after the game something unusual happened.

Heggebo became the first player to be charged by the Football Association with “deception of a match official”, a little known rule first brought in 2017-18., external

Then on Thursday he was banned for two matches.

Little detail, reasoning or context has been given beyond a factual statement announcing the ban from the Football Association., external

Now attention is turning to what precedent might have been set.

If you gain from something that may well have been accidental – West Brom insist it was – should you own up?

BBC Sport explores the fallout from this decision.

Aune Heggebo scores for West Brom against Norwich City in the Championship — Image caption,

Aune Heggebo’s controversial effort put West Brom in front after 75 minutes

West Brom’s Heggebo banned for ‘handball goal’
Absence of VAR in Championship is ‘crazy’ – Clement

What do the rules say?

Heggebo was charged with misconduct, contrary to FA Rule E3.1, by the Football Association on Tuesday.

In his defence, West Brom argued that the ball took a deflection off the goalkeeper before making contact with Heggebo’s hand.

The Baggies claim it affected the ball’s trajectory and left the player with “less than 0.1 of a second” to react.

Given the accidental nature of the handball, the club argued, it could not reasonably be viewed as a deliberate act of deception.

Since the ban was unveiled on Thursday, West Brom have reported they are going to write to the FA requesting clarification on how a player is reasonably expected to react should similar circumstances arise in the future.

Retrospective disciplinary action has previously been taken against players guilty of simulation.

According to English football’s governing body, the FA can take retrospective disciplinary action in situations where a match official may have been deceived.

This process is not for debatable decisions, but only where there is overwhelming evidence to indicate that a player intentionally deceived a match official.

However, West Brom believe that this charge is the first of its kind in English football following a rule change two years ago.

The incident reopened the debate over the use of Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in the Championship.

VAR is used in all matches in the Premier League but EFL clubs have blocked its introduction to date.

In April, clubs in the second tier of English football turned down the chance to introduce a version of the VAR system for 2026-27.

BBC Sport understands the idea is closed for the foreseeable future and is unlikely to be resurrected by the clubs in a year’s time – so no opportunity to review incidents like this shortly after they happen.

What has the reaction been?

Heggebo, who joined West Brom from Norwegian side SK Brann for an undisclosed fee in 2025, will miss his team’s next two games at home to Burnley on Sunday (12:00 BST) and away at Newcastle United in the second round of the Carabao Cup next Wednesday (19:45 BST).

West Brom issued a statement backing their player after the two-game ban was unveiled.

“We remain steadfast in our support of Aune, whose character and integrity have been evident throughout his time at The Hawthorns,” it read.

Speaking to BBC WM, West Brom fan Alistair reported the club had been treated harshly by the FA.

“It’s not our fault the referee didn’t see it.

“What is he supposed to do? Go to the referee and say: ‘you know what ref, I’ve handballed that and then get a rollocking off his gaffer after the match?’.

“It’s not Thierry Henry against the Republic of Ireland or Diego Maradona against England.”

Former Norwich City striker Chris Sutton, however, told BBC Sport that the outcome will “make players think twice about punching the ball into the back of the net.”

“There’s an argument that you can blame the officials for missing it – I get that,” added Sutton.

“But the player successfully deceived the officials and we shouldn’t be rewarding or encouraging that.

“That’s why it’s right the player has been banned.”

Former West Brom and Ajax midfielder Richard Sneekes disagreed, telling BBC WM:

“I just can’t see how the FA can do this. It’s absolute nonsense. Where are they going to draw a line?”

Aune Heggebo celebrates scoring for West Brom at Norwich City in the Championship — Image caption,

Heggebo will next be available for West Brom’s Championship game at Middlesbrough on 29 August

What does it mean for the rest of the season?

Heggebo’s ban has been welcomed by Martin Cassidy, chief executive of Ref Support UK, external – a charity committed to the support of referees.

He wants the rule implemented more throughout the 2026-27 season as he believes it will help stamp out incidents of players deceiving the officials.

Cassidy reported he had no sympathy for West Brom or the player and cited an incident in 1997 when Liverpool striker Robbie Fowler won a penalty against Arsenal – and then told the referee to overturn his decision., external

“Heggebo should have owned up,” added Cassidy. “Deceiving the officials is not welcome and this is a really positive step.

“This rule has been around for a while. They have never really used it as much as they could.

“For me, this is a really positive step forward that could change the game for the good.”

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