Morrison requests hearing

West Ham United new boy Ravel Morrison has requested a hearing after he was charged for making what was deemed to be a homophobic comment via Twitter.

19-year-old Morrison was charged by the FA earlier this week after he referred to an unnamed follower of his social network account as a 'faggot' - a comment construed by the FA to be 'a reference to a person’s sexual orientation'.

Morrison had been given until 4pm this afternoon to answer the charge and the FA confirmed this evening that the youngster had admitted the charge.

"West Ham United’s Ravel Morrison has admitted a charge under FA Rule E3 of using abusive and/or insulting words including a reference to a person’s sexual orientation in relation to Twitter comments," said the FA's statement, which also confirmed that, "Morrison has requested a non-personal hearing."

Prior to the FA's notice there was some actually some football related news with regards to the player, who captained a West Ham development team earlier in the day.

Morrison was part of an experienced side - that included the likes of Sam Baldock, Guy Demel and fellow new signing George John - that beat Queens Park Rangers in an unannounced friendly at the club's Chadwell Heath training complex.

The Hammers ran out 2-1 winners over the Premier League side thanks to a goal from Freddie Piquionne and a second from an unnamed player after Rangers had drawn level at the beginning of the second period.