Shaquille Gwengwe suspension: Newport County respond as Garner scores 2026

Key Points

• Newport County striker Shaquille Gwengwe is banned from playing in the next three games because of violent conduct.
• The Football Association had accused Gwengwe over his actions that occurred during the 66th minute in the 1-1 home draw between Newport and York City on Saturday, 17 October.
• Gwengwe did not receive any yellow cards during the incident since the officials failed to notice his actions at the time, but after reviewing the video footage, the Football Association punished the player for it and Gwengwe admitted the charge.
• Newport found out about the decision while travelling to Rotherham United on Tuesday, 20 October; Gwengwe was supposed to play against Rotherham.
• Hayden Mullins said that it was a really harsh punishment for Gwengwe and explained why Newport decided not to appeal against it.
• Gwengwe missed the first match of the ban which ended in a draw with Rotherham and now he will miss Newport’s League Two matches against Cheltenham Town and Chesterfield.
• Gwengwe is the Mali international who has six goals to his name this season and was leading Newport’s scoring.
• Newport played without their top scorer against Rotherham, where Ged Garner started as their number nine and scored his first goal.

Newport (Wales Times) October 22, 2026 – uk/local/newport/">Newport County manager Hayden Mullins has explained why striker Shaquille Gwengwe received a three-match ban, describing the Football Association’s decision as harsh while the club’s other forwards took advantage of the opportunity created by his absence.

Gwengwe, Newport’s top scorer with six goals this season, was due to lead the attack when County travelled to Rotherham United in League Two on Tuesday night. However, as reported by BBC Sport Wales, Newport were informed by the FA while en route to South Yorkshire that the striker had been suspended.

The ban relates to an incident during Newport’s 1-1 draw against York City at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 17 October. The FA said the offence occurred in the 66th minute and was not identified by the match officials at the time. After reviewing footage, the governing body charged Gwengwe with violent conduct, and the 25-year-old admitted the charge.

As a result, Gwengwe missed the Rotherham match and will also be unavailable for Newport’s away game at Cheltenham Town on Saturday, 24 October, and their home fixture against Chesterfield on Friday, 30 October.

Why has Shaquille Gwengwe been banned?

Gwengwe has been banned for violent conduct after the FA reviewed an incident that had gone unpunished during Newport’s draw with York City.

As reported by BBC Sport Wales, Mullins said the FA’s case was that Gwengwe kicked out at an opposition player. The Newport manager explained that the striker reacted after being brought down during an aerial challenge.

“He did kick out, but he was taken to the ground, and as he fell backward, his leg made a movement toward the opponent,” Mullins told BBC Sport Wales.

The FA’s position, as reported by BBC Sport, was that Gwengwe’s actions amounted to violent conduct. The governing body said the incident took place in the 66th minute of the York match, although officials did not stop play or take action against the Newport forward at the time.

Newport County later confirmed the suspension in a club statement published on 21 October. The club said Gwengwe would serve a three-match suspension following “an unseen incident” during the York fixture and confirmed that he had accepted the charge.

What did Hayden Mullins say about the ban?

Mullins said Newport were surprised by both the timing and the severity of the punishment.

As reported by BBC Sport Wales, the Newport manager said he had not seen the incident during the original match and did not believe play had been halted because of it.

“I didn’t witness it. I don’t believe the game was halted for it. It’s baffling to me,” Mullins said.

He acknowledged that Gwengwe had made a movement with his leg, but argued that the contact and the circumstances did not justify a three-match suspension.

“The severity of the contact is something only the player truly knows. It doesn’t seem like it warrants a three-match suspension,” Mullins said. “Perhaps it’s about the intent, but I’m not entirely certain.”

Mullins added that he could understand a lengthy ban for a more obvious act of violence, but said the retrospective punishment felt excessive in this case.

“If he had elbowed someone off the ball or committed a more severe act, I could understand it, but to go back, review it, and then impose a three-game ban feels overly harsh for all of us, really,” he said.

Earlier, after the Rotherham draw, Mullins had also criticised the decision. As reported by the South Wales Argus, he said: “I’ve seen the incident and, for me, it’s never three matches what Shaq’s done. They think it is, so we’ll take it and we move on.”

Why did Newport not appeal Gwengwe’s ban?

Newport decided not to appeal because an unsuccessful appeal could have led to further consequences.

As reported by BBC Sport, Mullins said the club had been informed that Gwengwe had received a three-match ban for an incident from the weekend and had to make a decision on the day of the Rotherham game.

“If we chose to appeal, there could be additional consequences if we were unsuccessful,” Mullins said. “We had to reach a decision this afternoon.”

The South Wales Argus also reported Mullins saying that Newport had planned for Gwengwe to be involved at Rotherham and that the striker had travelled with the squad before the suspension was confirmed.

The club’s statement confirmed that Gwengwe had accepted the charge, meaning the three-match suspension would stand.

How did Newport respond without Gwengwe?

Newport responded by fighting back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at Rotherham United, extending their unbeaten run to nine matches in all competitions.

As reported by the South Wales Argus, County trailed 2-0 after only 12 minutes at the New York Stadium. Harrison Biggins reduced the deficit from the penalty spot before half-time, and Ged Garner equalised nine minutes into the second half.

Garner was given the opportunity to start as Newport’s number nine in Gwengwe’s absence. As reported by BBC Sport Wales, he scored his first League Two goal of the season, helping Newport secure a point against the Millers.

Mullins praised his players’ response after the late news of Gwengwe’s suspension and a difficult start to the match. As reported by the South Wales Argus, he said Newport had shown “character and togetherness” after losing their top scorer shortly before kick-off and then falling two goals behind.

Kion Etete had also made an impression in the previous match against York. As reported by BBC Sport Wales, Mullins said there was “a real fight for the shirt” among Newport’s attacking players, with Garner’s goal at Rotherham strengthening that competition.

Which matches will Gwengwe miss?

Gwengwe has already missed Newport’s 2-2 draw at Rotherham United and will miss two further League Two fixtures.

According to Newport County’s official club statement, he will be unavailable for the away match against Cheltenham Town on Saturday, 24 October, and the home game against Chesterfield on Friday, 30 October.

The suspension is therefore expected to rule him out of three consecutive league matches. BBC Sport reported that the ban took effect immediately, meaning Gwengwe could not feature at Rotherham despite travelling with the squad.

Newport’s next match is at Cheltenham Town, with kick-off scheduled for 12:45 BST on Saturday, 24 October.

How important is Gwengwe to Newport?

Gwengwe has been an important player for Newport this season, scoring six goals and serving as the club’s leading scorer.

As reported by BBC Sport Wales, the Mali international was expected to start up front against Rotherham before the suspension was confirmed. His absence removed Newport’s most prolific attacking option from the starting line-up at short notice.

The South Wales Argus described Gwengwe as Newport’s top scorer and reported Mullins saying that the striker was “an important player” for the club.

Despite his importance, Newport managed to avoid defeat at Rotherham without him. Garner’s goal, Biggins’s penalty and the team’s recovery from 2-0 down gave Mullins evidence that his squad can cope during Gwengwe’s absence.

What happens next for Newport County?

Newport will now prepare for Cheltenham Town without Gwengwe, before facing Chesterfield at home in their following league fixture.

Mullins has indicated that the suspension has not disrupted the squad’s momentum. As reported by BBC Sport, Newport are on a nine-match unbeaten run across all competitions, and the manager emphasised that the team’s form had continued despite the setback.

Garner’s first League Two goal of the season gives Newport another attacking option, while Etete’s recent impact suggests Mullins has alternatives as Gwengwe completes his suspension.

Newport’s immediate challenge is to maintain that unbeaten sequence at Cheltenham, where they will again need to compensate for the loss of their leading scorer.

Background of the development

Shaquille Gwengwe’s suspension stems from an incident in the 66th minute of Newport County’s 1-1 League Two draw with York City at Rodney Parade on Saturday, 17 October. The incident was not spotted by the on-field officials, allowing Gwengwe to remain on the pitch for the remainder of normal time.

The FA later reviewed video footage and charged the Newport forward with violent conduct. Gwengwe admitted the charge, and the FA imposed a three-match suspension. Newport County confirmed the punishment in a statement on 21 October, saying the incident had been unseen during the original fixture.

Mullins said Newport only learned of the ban on the morning of the Rotherham United match, while the team was travelling to South Yorkshire. Gwengwe had been expected to start, but the club had to adjust its plans shortly before kick-off.

The Newport manager questioned the severity of the sanction, arguing that the movement seen in the footage followed Gwengwe being wrestled to the ground. He also said the club chose not to appeal because an unsuccessful appeal could have carried additional consequences.

Prediction: How will the Gwengwe ban affect Newport County?

For Newport supporters, the immediate effect is that the team must continue without its leading scorer for two more League Two matches. Gwengwe’s six-goal return means his absence removes a significant attacking threat, particularly in tight games where a clinical forward can decide the result.

However, the response at Rotherham suggests Newport have players capable of stepping in. Ged Garner’s first League Two goal of the season and Kion Etete’s recent involvement give Mullins options, while Harrison Biggins’s penalty at Rotherham showed that responsibility can be shared across the squad.

Newport’s nine-match unbeaten run provides a positive foundation, but the Cheltenham and Chesterfield fixtures will test whether the squad can maintain that form without Gwengwe. If Garner, Etete and the wider attacking group continue to contribute, Newport can limit the damage during the suspension.

For Gwengwe, the ban means he will be available again after the Chesterfield match, provided there are no further disciplinary developments. For Newport, the key task over the next two games is to remain competitive in League Two while their top scorer serves the final two matches of his suspension.