Liverpool head coach Gareth Taylor has revealed that goalkeeper Rafaela Borggrafe has been serving a six-match ban over an alleged racist remark.
Liverpool boss confirms Rafaela Borggrafe has been serving ban
Ahead of Liverpool’s FA Cup clash with London Bees, Taylor confirmed that Borggrafe has been serving the ban, but is nearing a return to action.
There was an allegation that the 25-year-old, who only joined the club in the summer, used discriminatory language of a racial nature.
This led to an investigation from the Football Association, which was launched in September.
The Athletic report that Borggrafe accepted the FA’s charge several weeks ago and is required to undergo an education program with the club. She has already served five matches of the suspension.
Taylor said: “The FA have sanctioned her with a six-match ban. That has been ongoing whilst we’ve been playing. So effectively, she will be out of the running to be involved this weekend, but after that, she’s available for selection.
“The situation is the situation. The team and the club have acted in the appropriate way. We support the FA’s investigation. I will say it’s dragged on a little bit. I think that’s been frustrating for everyone involved, particularly Rafa.
“We are happy now that it’s completed and that we have some actual detail on what it looks like, and all of us can move on.”
SheKicks has approached the FA for a comment.
When did the alleged incident take place?
The alleged incident is said to have taken place during the squad’s pre-season training camp in Cork.
Prior reports claim that the comment was heard while Liverpool were preparing to take a squad photograph.
Liverpool only signed German goalkeeper Borggrafe back in July, after she spent more than a decade with Freiburg.
She was brought in to provide competition to Rachael Laws and Faye Kirby.
Borggrafe made three starts for Liverpool in the WSL in defeats to both Manchester clubs and the London City Lionesses.
She last featured in the matchday squad as an unused substitute during a 4-1 victory over Sheffield United in the League Cup on November 22nd.
Borggrafe could struggle for games in the second half of the campaign, after Liverpool signed Jennifer Falk.
England fans will be familiar with the Swedish number one, as she caused the Lionesses trouble at Euro 2025 last year, saving four penalties during the quarter-final, although her nation crashed out to the Lionesses.
