FA Charges Hannibal Mejbri Following Spitting Incident

Hannibal Mejbri was walking behind the goal at Turf Moor when an alleged spitting incident occurred. He appeared to react negatively to something said in the vicinity, as he was there to pass a note to Clarets goalkeeper Martin Dubravka. The Tunisia international, who later participated in the match for the final seven minutes plus stoppage time, became the subject of a complaint made to Lancashire Police by a Leeds fan.

The FA subsequently reviewed the incident and initiated an investigation that has led to Hannibal being charged with misconduct. An FA spokesperson stated: “Burnley’s Hannibal Mejbri has been charged with misconduct following their Premier League fixture against Leeds United on Saturday, October 18. It is alleged that the player acted in violation of the Laws of the Game and/or in an improper manner and/or employed abusive and/or indecent behavior by spitting at or in the direction of Leeds United supporters around the 67th minute. Hannibal Mejbri has until Friday, November 28, to provide a response.”

This is not the first time Hannibal has had confrontations with Leeds fans. Influenced by his history with Manchester United—where he spent five years after transferring from Monaco as a teenager—he faced derogatory chants comparing his hairstyle to that of Sideshow Bob from The Simpsons during an FA Youth Cup tie in 2020. Additionally, he appeared to provoke Leeds supporters during a Championship match shortly after signing with Burnley permanently in 2024. Last month’s incident marks an escalation of this ongoing rivalry that has persisted for several years.

In England, the standard suspension for a player found guilty of a spitting incident is six games. A notable example is Manchester United defender Jonny Evans, who received a six-game ban for a similar offense against Newcastle in March 2015. Magpie striker Papiss Cisse, who had a previous suspension, received a seven-game ban. Hannibal could face a longer suspension, as reported by The Times, due to the case being considered a “non-standard” incident. However, he might mitigate the severity of the punishment by responding quickly, accepting the charges, and issuing an apology. If he chooses to contest the charges, he will be required to attend a hearing where an independent regulatory commission will determine the appropriate sanction if he is found guilty.

Hannibal has 17 days to respond to the FA’s charge, but it may be in his best interest to present his perspective as soon as possible. Premier League fixtures are currently paused, and Burnley’s next match is against Chelsea at Turf Moor on November 22.

Hannibal has joined the Tunisia national squad for international friendlies against Mauritania, Jordan, and Brazil over the coming week. Tunisia has qualified for next summer’s World Cup, marking their third consecutive appearance after missing the tournaments in 2010 and 2014.

Hannibal’s potential suspension may not significantly impact Burnley, as his contributions this season have been limited. Aside from a stoppage-time game-winning assist off the bench against Wolves following the Leeds match, he has had minimal influence. The 22-year-old has not started a Premier League match since being substituted after 65 minutes in Burnley’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United, and that assist remains his only goal involvement across 10 league appearances totaling 290 minutes.