Coventry City manager Frank Lampard has come to the defence of forward Brandon Thomas-Asante following a controversial incident during Monday night’s match against Norwich City. The episode, which saw Thomas-Asante strike Norwich's Pelle Mattsson off the ball, went unnoticed by the match officials at the time but was later captured by Sky Sports cameras. The footage has since been referred to the Football Association (FA) for further examination.
With the possibility of a three-match ban looming over Thomas-Asante due to a charge of violent conduct, Lampard expressed his belief that the striker’s actions do not reflect his true character. "I’ve spoken to Brandon about it because it’s not Brandon, it’s not Brandon’s personality, it’s not his manner, it’s not his way," the Coventry boss stated. "He didn’t mean to do it. And when I say that, it was an instinctive movement from him which we’ve all been guilty of if we’ve been on a football pitch - a moment that you can regret instantly. And that’s where Brandon’s at, and that’s absolutely the case and I stand by him, completely." Read more about Ahmed Chooses Norwich as Clement's Vision Impresses.
Lampard acknowledged the extensive media coverage surrounding the incident, remarking, "Sky showed it a hundred times but the incident is the incident and I think he’s going to be dealt with, he is being dealt with. That process is happening already." He reiterated his support for Thomas-Asante, emphasising that the player feels remorse for his actions and that the incident was not a premeditated act of aggression.
As the FA reviews the footage to determine the appropriate course of action, Coventry City and their supporters are keen to move past this challenging situation and refocus on their upcoming fixtures. The Sky Blues are determined to maintain their concentration during this difficult period.