Horsham YM have confirmed that captain, Gideon Acheampong, has had his four-match suspension overturned following a successful appeal to the Sussex County Football Association.
The ban related to the controversial incident during the match between Eastbourne United AFC and Horsham YM FC on Saturday 28th February, which is also the subject of an ongoing police investigation regarding alleged racist abuse.
In a statement released by the club, Horsham YM said a regulatory commission ruled that the referee had made an “obvious error” in dismissing Acheampong during the match.
Following a review of video footage, the commission determined that there was no evidence of violent conduct, meaning the red card, dismissal fine and four-game suspension have all been removed from the player’s record.
The decision means Acheampong is now immediately available for selection.
Despite the successful appeal, the wider situation surrounding the incident remains unresolved, with the matter still under investigation by police and football authorities.
Horsham YM chairman Steve Ratcliffe said the club was pleased with the outcome of the appeal but acknowledged the process is not yet finished.
“We are delighted that common sense has prevailed and Gideon is available for selection,” Ratcliffe said.
The club also thanked several prominent figures within football and anti-racism campaigns who publicly supported Acheampong during the disciplinary process, including Anwar Uddin and Troy Townsend.
However, Horsham YM confirmed that suspensions handed to teammates Jesse Sentamu and Richards Pingling have been upheld by the FA, despite the club claiming there was no clear visual evidence identifying either player as an aggressor.
In their statement, the club reiterated their stance against discrimination and confirmed they will continue cooperating with organisations working to resolve the matter.
“Moving forward, we will continue to assist Kick It Out, Sporting Integrity Matters and the police to ensure this situation is fully resolved,” the statement added.
The incident has attracted significant attention within the Sussex non-league community, with several players and supporters across the country publicly expressing solidarity with Gideon Acheampong while investigations continue.
