FA increases minimum six match ban for discrimination to ten matches

The English Football Association (FA) will raise its minimum six match ban for discrimination to ten matches, stating that discriminatory behaviour “continues to be a challenge across the game”

This will come into effect from next season, which begins in August. It will apply to players and others involved in the game who are under the FA’s jurisdiction, such as managers, coaches and club officials, if they are found guilty of an aggravated breach of the FA’s disciplinary rules concerning discriminatory behaviour. An aggravated breach refers to “any misconduct that includes an express or implied reference to any one or more of the following characteristics: ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, sex, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, or disability.” If there are “significant aggravating factors present,” bans can exceed ten games.

Going forward, those found guilty will only be granted a ban of less than ten matches if they are able to provide “mitigating factors of a significant number or weight,” and if the individual has pleaded guilty themselves at the “earliest reasonable available opportunity,” but the ban can be reduced by no more than four matches in such circumstances.

Furthermore, if aggravated breaches are conducted “in writing only or via any communication device [such as comments made on social media],” the perpetrator may have their suspension reduced further, with the minimum ban in this case being three games – if the mitigating factors presented are also deemed sufficient.

If an individual commits a further offence on another occasion, a ban of more than a year could be imposed in “very serious cases.”

It is hoped that improved conduct professionally will also be reflected at the grassroots level. Last season, ten individuals were found guilty of aggravated breaches and their bans ranged from six to nine matches, and the British anti-discrimination charity, Kick It Out, received 1,744 reports of discrimination across professional football, grassroots football and online activity.

The FA voiced: “We are committed to delivering a game free from discrimination. While significant progress has been made in recent years, discriminatory conduct continues to be a challenge across the game…

Enhanced measures are necessary to tackle this abhorrent conduct, and our updated sanction guidelines will now require regulatory commissions to impose a standard suspension of at least 10 matches in these circumstances.”

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