Jay Rodriguez facing minimum five-game ban if West Brom striker found guilty for racist abuse of Brighton’s Gaetan Bong

JAY RODRIGUEZ faces a minimum five-match ban if found guilty after the FA charged him with racially abusing Brighton’s Gaetan Bong.

The stunned West Brom striker immediately vowed to fight the charge and prove his innocence — in court if necessary.

He said on Twitter: “Absolutely gutted and in disbelief at the situation I find myself in.

“I 100 per cent deny the false allegation and will take the correct legal advice to prove my ­innocence.”

The England international, 28, is reeling after the FA charged him with “using abusive and/or insulting words which included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race.”

Rodriguez has until next Friday to officially respond to the charge.

If found guilty by an independent three-man FA Regulatory Commission, Rodriguez would cop a minimum five-match ban.

Tough rules were brought in following cases involving John Terry and Luis Suarez in 2011.

Chelsea’s Terry was handed a four-match ban and a £220,000 fine for racially abusing QPR defender Anton Ferdinand.

Suarez, then at Liverpool, received an eight-match suspension for his abuse of Manchester United’s Patrice Evra.

The flashpoint incident between Rodriguez and Bong occurred during the Baggies’ 2-0 victory over Brighton at The Hawthorns on January 13.

Following a collision the players clashed and Rodriguez pinched his own nose and wafted his hand in front of his face.

Cameroon defender Bong claimed Rodriguez said ‘you’re black and you stink’ and protested to referee Martin Atkinson.

Fourth official Tony Harrington took down Bong’s accusation in his notebook on Atkinson’s orders.

Rodriguez insists he did not use any racist language and told the left-back he had bad breath.

The FA can rule on the balance of probability, similar to a civil case.

That could see Rodriguez pursuing the issue in court if the FA find him guilty.