Aune Heggebø will serve a two-match suspension after an appeal against a charge of misconduct was unsuccessful.
The 25-year-old will be unavailable for the Sky Bet Championship fixture against Burnley on Sunday and the Carabao Cup second-round tie at Newcastle United on Wednesday.
The FA on Tuesday charged Heggebø with a breach of Rule E3.1 in relation to his goal at Norwich City on Saturday. The charge is believed to be the first of its kind in English football, following a rule change prior to the 2024/25 season.
The FA alleged Heggebø did “successfully deceive a Match Official by handling the ball in a direct successful attempt to score a goal”.
Albion appealed on Wednesday, stating the ball took a deflection from the goalkeeper immediately before making contact with Heggebø’s arm, which materially affected the ball's trajectory and left him with less than 0.1 of a second to react. Given the accidental nature of the handball, the club argued it could not be reasonably viewed as a deliberate act of deception.
On Thursday, the matter was placed before a Regulatory Commission, which upheld the charge.
The club will now write to the FA requesting clarification on how a player is reasonably expected to react should similar circumstances arise in the future.
Albion remain steadfast in their support of Aune, whose character and integrity have been evident throughout his time at The Hawthorns.
