Jonjo Shelvey takes swipe at Wolves after racism ban
Jonjo Shelvey has again denied being racist towards Romain Saiss – and had a dig at Wolves in the process.
Shelvey was banned for five matches and fined £100,000 by the FA after being found guilty of racially abusing Saiss during Wolves' 2-0 win at St James' Park in September 2016.
The midfielder has brushed off the furore surrounding the incident – and suggested that the fact Wolves are still in the Championship makes it pale into insignificance.
In an interview with Mail Online, Shelvey said: "If I had said it then I would have deserved every punishment I got, but I didn't say it.
"When we went to the hearing, I had a top lawyer and before the verdict the FA lawyer even said to us 'you may as well get going because you have won this'.
"My lawyer tore the Wolves witnesses to pieces. Their stories didn't add up.
"And then the outcome was me being banned and a £100,000 fine.
"It is what it is. At the end of the day, they are still in the Championship and we are in the Premier League."
An 11-page report of the hearing regarding Shelvey's charge stated: "It is alleged that Shelvey called Saiss an "Arab" or "Arabic" "****" and/or "p***k."
Dominic Iorfa, Matt Doherty and Cameron Borthwick-Jackson all told an FA hearing that Shelvey used derogatory racist language towards Saiss following the sending off of Vernon Anita in the game.
But Shelvey insists: "I didn't say what they claimed I said but that stain will be there until I finish playing.
"I have to live with it. We played Leeds last season and when I went out to warm up it was 'Shelvey you racist'.
"We played Wigan at home and a lad in their team came straight through me in the first minute, straight down the back of my calf.
"Then he has slapped me on the head as I got up and called me a 'bald racist ****'. Then he ran off.
"But you are going to get that as that is what I have been accused of doing. I am going to take it because I have to. Judgement was made."
Shelvey started seeing a psychologist last year after a red card against Nottingham Forest.
He admitted: "Look, sometimes I just need to reign in it in. I need to just shut up and stuff, walk away.
"But sometimes I can't help it. It's like any walk of life. If you are driving and someone cuts you up you are gonna want to start shouting."
Newcastle manager Rafa Benitez sparked further anger after he called for the FA to investigate Wolves fans for the stick they gave Jonjo Shelvey at Molineux in the second meeting between the clubs in February.
Shelvey's team mate Jamaal Lascelles also said it was 'terrible' that the midfielder had been banned in the first place.
