Wilshere pleas for leniency after FA hand him two-game ban for gesture

Jack Wilshere will today contest the length of his ban for an offensive hand gesture made towards Manchester City fans in Arsenal’s 6-3 defeat last Saturday.

The midfielder has admitted a charge from the FA over the matter, but has contested the mandatory two-match ban and the case will be heard by a commission today.

Television cameras picked up Wilshere raising his middle finger in the direction of home supporters on Saturday and, although the incident was missed at the time by referee Martin Atkinson and his officials, the FA were able to retrospectively implement disciplinary proceedings against the player under a new pilot scheme for ‘not seen’ incidents in Premier League matches.