LONDON — Norwich City winger Borja Sainz has been handed a six-match suspension after admitting to an incident in which he spat at an opponent during a December match. The ruling was announced on Friday by the Football Association.

The 23-year-old Spanish player, who currently tops the scoring charts in the Championship, publicly expressed remorse following the decision. The altercation took place in the second half during Norwich’s 2-1 defeat against Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on December 21, where Sainz directed his actions toward Sunderland’s defender Chris Mepham.

Sainz acknowledged his misconduct, stating, “Spitting at an opponent is completely out of character for me, and my reaction in that moment was unacceptable. I deeply regret my actions and take full responsibility.” He further added, “I want to apologize directly to the opposing player, Chris Mepham, for my behavior. Additionally, I extend my apologies to my teammates, our coaching staff, and our fans. I am deeply disappointed in myself for letting all of you down through my conduct.”

Despite this setback, Sainz has been a key player for Norwich, leading the Championship with a total of 15 goals this season. As of now, Norwich sits at 11th place in the league standings, but they are closely eyeing a promotion playoff position, being just four points away.

Looking ahead, Norwich will host Premier League side Brighton in an FA Cup third-round match on Saturday, giving the team an opportunity to focus on their cup ambitions amidst the suspension of their star winger.