Overview
- The Football Association has instructed its Regulatory Commissions to impose a standard minimum suspension of 10 matches for aggravated discriminatory conduct by players, managers or officials.
- An aggravated breach covers any express or implied reference to protected characteristics such as ethnic origin, race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability.
- Panels may increase bans beyond 10 matches for significant aggravating factors and may reduce penalties where clear mitigation or an early admission applies, with a six-match minimum in those cases.
- The only narrower reduction allowed is for breaches that occurred in writing only, and repeat offenders face stronger sanctions than for a first aggravated breach.
- Recent enforcement shows how the rules will work in practice: an independent commission banned Pierre Dwomoh for 11 matches, fined him and ordered compulsory face-to-face education, and clubs retain the right to make immediate selection decisions.