Port Vale have been fined £25,000 for misconduct in relation to crowd control at their EFL League One game against Portsmouth on Saturday 27 January 2024.
Port Vale admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion; don’t behave in an improper, threatening or provocative way; or commit any form of pitch incursion.
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed the club’s fine following a hearing and its written reasons can be read here.
Former PGMOL referee observer, Rodger Gifford, has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for five months, fined £400 and ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme, for an Aggravated Breach of misconduct.
It was alleged that following the FA Cup second round fixture between Newport County AFC and Barnet FC on Saturday 2 December 2023, his language towards an assistant referee coach was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper, contrary to Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that this is an “Aggravated Breach”, as defined in Rule E3.2, as it includes a reference, whether express or implied, to colour and/or race and/or ethnic origin.
Mr Gifford denied the charge, but an independent Regulatory Commission found it to be proven and imposed the sanctions. The Written Reasons can be found here.
Reading FC and four individuals have been sanctioned following misconduct charges for breaches of FA Rule E1.2 between 1 March 2019 and 16 July 2019.
It was alleged that Reading FC and Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes – acting on behalf of the Club – as well as Intermediary Glen Tweneboah agreed for the latter to have an interest in relation to a registration right or an economic right, namely to receive payments contingent on the future transfer of a player, which was a breach of The FA’s Intermediary Regulations.
Reading FC, Nigel Howe, Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes denied breaching Intermediary Regulation E5, but admitted a charge of improper conduct. However, an independent Regulatory Commission found all charges to be proven, and subsequently imposed a £200,000 fine on Reading FC, while Nigel Howe has been fined £5,000 and suspended for a total of 12 months. During the first six months, Mr Howe is suspended from involvement with player contract negotiations and transfer-related activity, and for the latter six months he is suspended from all football and football-related activity. Sue Hewett and Michael Gilkes have each been warned regarding their future conduct.
Intermediary Glen Tweneboah denied all charges, however they were found proven and he has been fined £15,000 and suspended for six months from all football and football-related activity, including intermediary and football agent services, effective from 4 October 2024.
Full written reasons from the independent Regulatory Commission can be found below.
The FA v Reading FC and others - Liability
The FA v Reading FC and others - Sanction
Published Thursday, 04 April 2024.
An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Nottingham Forest and Steven Reid following their Premier League game against Liverpool on Saturday 2 March.
The club admitted that it failed to ensure its players and technical area occupants did not behave in an improper way after the final whistle. The independent Regulatory Commission imposed a £75,000 fine following a subsequent hearing.
The coach admitted that his language towards a match official which led to him being sent off was abusive and insulting. Steven Reid denied that he acted in an improper manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting language towards a match official after being sent off. The independent Regulatory Commission found the second charge to be proven, and it imposed a two-match extended touchline suspension and £5,000 fine following the hearing.
The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for its decisions can be seen here.
Published Tuesday, 05 March 2024.
Fulham FC’s manager Marco Silva has been fined £80,000 and warned as to his future conduct for a breach of FA Rule E3 following their Premier League game against Newcastle United FC on Saturday 16 December 2023.
Mr Silva admitted that his comments in the post-match media interviews following the fixture, constitute improper conduct in that they imply bias and/or question the integrity of, and/or are insulting towards the match official (Referee) and/or the Video Assistant Referee, and/or bring the game into disrepute. The sanction was imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission.
The full decision can be viewed here.
Danny Macklin has been suspended from all football and football-related activity up to and including 25 March 2024, and he has also been ordered to complete an education course.
The FA alleged that Danny Macklin breached FA Rule E3.1 by using abusive and/or insulting and/or threatening language in reference to a female member of AFC Wimbledon’s staff while he was employed as their Managing Director.
It was further alleged that this constitutes an ‘aggravated breach’, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as his language included a reference - whether express or implied - to gender.
Danny Macklin subsequently admitted this charge. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions following a hearing and its written reasons can be read here.
The FA has today published its first Annual Grassroots Disciplinary Review, providing an insight into all misconduct types which were overseen by The FA’s Grassroots Discipline Team during the 2022/23 season.
The Review, which covers Step 5 and below of the men’s football pyramid and Step 3 and below of the women’s football pyramid, provides a detailed breakdown of discriminatory conduct across the season, in addition to analysis concerning serious offences against a match official, assaults committed by a participant on a participant, and general misconduct.
This data will now be published each year as part of The FA’s ongoing commitment to ensuring greater transparency across the grassroots game, in an effort to help improve behaviour and to increase confidence in the reporting process for incidents of serious misconduct.
During the 2022/23 season, there were 3,636 allegations of serious misconduct – a 9% increase on the previous season – with 82% of charges being proven. There was also a 10% increase in the number of allegations of discrimination, with the average sanction for proven charges being a seven-match suspension.
Overall, the average number of days from a case being opened to an investigation being closed was 44 days, which is a 17% improvement on the previous season and is a result of The FA’s ongoing efforts to make the investigative process smoother and to bring perpetrators of serious misconduct to justice faster.
The full Review for the 2022-23 season can be found here.
Following consultation with key stakeholders across the game, The FA has introduced pioneering sanctions in recent months to address serious misconduct across grassroots football, including points deductions, ground closures, and the trial of body cams for match officials across selected areas in the grassroots game.
This was followed by the launch of The FA’s Enough is Enough campaign to raise awareness of discriminatory behaviour in grassroots football and the significant consequences that will face perpetrators of hate. Aimed at grassroots players, coaches, parents, and supporters, the campaign makes clear to everyone involved in the game what behaviours are deemed as discriminatory, and focuses on the importance of reporting of incidents, highlighting the different ways to do this through match officials, The FA, Kick It Out and local County FAs.
Furthermore, The FA and Kick It Out recently collaborated to publish a joint action plan to proactively tackle incidents of discrimination and serious misconduct in grassroots football. The action plan follows new research that was commissioned by both organisations to help identify ways to improve reporting, awareness and handling of incidents of this nature within the grassroots game.
FA Senior Discipline Manager, Fraser Williamson, said: "Providing this level of transparency is really important to us so that everyone can have a better understanding of the levels of serious misconduct across the game. It also makes clear that we take all allegations of this nature very seriously and that we will take action against offenders. We know that incidents of serious misconduct are on the rise across grassroots game, however we’re clear that this will not be tolerated and that perpetrators will face consequences. We’ve recently implemented a number of interventions across our game to help improve the culture and behaviour of participants, both on the pitch and on the sidelines, and we will continue to do all we can to ensure our game is safe and welcoming for all."
At the start of the 2023/24 season, the English football authorities introduced a new Participant Behaviour Charter as part of the ‘Love Football. Protect the Game’ football-wide campaign that focuses on addressing unacceptable conduct on the pitch, on the sidelines and in the stands.
The new Charter detailed stronger measures for players, managers, coaches, support staff and club officials to adhere to on a matchday and is in place across the Premier League, EFL, National League System (Steps 1-4), Barclays Women’s Super League, and Barclays Women’s Championship.
As a result, the first five months of the 2023/24 season has seen a significant decrease in both incidents of players surrounding match officials and charges of mass confrontations.
Under the new approach, match officials have been empowered by the game to take stronger action, alongside a consistent application of the existing measures, when participant behaviour falls below expected standards. This has seen a significant rise in cautions for dissent for players.
Misconduct Cases
- 37% decrease in charges for surrounding of a match official (from 19 to 12 charges)
- 43% decrease in charges for mass confrontations (from 61 to 35 charges)
- 10% decrease in charges for technical area misconduct (from 70 to 63 charges)
Match Discipline
- 88% increase in dissent cautions for players (from 966 to 1,813 cautions)
Mark Bullingham, FA CEO said: “This season, English football came together to take a collective stance against unacceptable behaviour in our game. It’s great to see that the new approach has made a positive impact on the season so far. We have seen a decrease in charges for surrounding of a match official, mass confrontations, technical area misconduct, and an increase in the number of cautions for dissent. This shows that our new approach is making an impact at the top of the pyramid, and we need to maintain this and ensure that these positive changes are carried through to the whole game.”
Howard Webb, Chief Refereeing Officer at PGMOL, said: “We were empowered and supported by the game to be more robust with our actions to address declining behaviour. A culture change won’t happen overnight and it is early days, but we are moving in the right direction and our officials are successfully delivering on our part of the collective football effort to reset behaviours, protect the reputation and promote the positive image of the game for the next generations. It has been encouraging to see improvements in some behaviours already and the aim is that cautions for dissent decrease significantly to a much lower level in time as this culture change takes effect. That is the real indication of the progress, and with the power of example being so strong, we all have a continued duty to hold firm for the benefit of the game’s future.
The Government’s independent review into the future of women’s football, ‘Raising the Bar’, was written by Karen Carney OBE in July.
The FA welcomed the Review as it sought to support the continued growth of the women’s game.
The FA’s back-to-back women’s strategies, Gameplan for Growth and Inspiring Positive Change, have seen a doubling of participation in the grassroots game, a doubling of fans in the professional game and international success in winning the EUROs.
With Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship clubs having just agreed to create a new organisation (NewCo) to lead the women’s professional game into a new era, this is a pivotal moment in the development of women’s football, and we welcome the support Government can provide in the game’s continuing success.
The FA response can be found here.
Published Wednesday, 29 November 2023.
A Professional Game Board Sub-Committee has removed Barnsley from the 2023-24 Emirates FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player during their First Round Proper Replay against Horsham on Tuesday 14 November 2023.
The FA alleged that the player was ineligible for this Replay, as he was not correctly registered and eligible for the original First Round Proper match on Friday 3 November 2023, which constitutes a breach of FA Cup Rule 103.
Barnsley admitted this charge and acknowledged that the breach had occurred. The Sub-Committee’s members ordered that Barnsley be removed from the competition, and that Horsham be awarded the tie and progression to the Second Round Proper.
Subject to any appeal by Barnsley, Horsham will now play away to Sutton United in the Second Round Proper on Saturday 2 December 2023.
An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a six-match suspension, £8,000 fine and face-to-face education upon Jack Simpson for misconduct on Cardiff City’s pre-season tour to Portugal in July 2023.
It was alleged the defender used language towards a teammate that was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper contrary to FA Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that that this language constitutes an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference - whether express or implied - to race and/or colour.
Jack Simpson admitted the charge against him, and his sanctions were imposed following a hearing.
An independent Regulatory Commission has fined Luton Town £35,000 for breaching FA Rule E21 in relation to crowd control at their game against Sunderland in the EFL Championship on Tuesday 16 May 2023.
Luton Town admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers):
- Conducted themselves in an orderly fashion;
- Did not behave in an improper, threatening, violent and/or provocative way in the 14th minute; and
- Did not commit any form of pitch incursion following the final whistle.
Kick It Out, The FA, Premier League, EFL and PFA have been working with Government to ensure Online Safety Act tackles racist and other discriminatory abuse
"Kick It Out, The FA, Premier League, English Football League and the PFA have been working closely with the Government and parliamentarians to ensure that the Online Safety Act (OSA) effectively tackles racist and other discriminatory abuse online and better protects users on social media platforms.
"Online abuse in football has risen significantly in recent years, but new laws passed by the Government should offer some hope to all those who participate in football. Change will take time, but it’s a big step in the right direction to make everyone in football feel safer online.
"We still need to ensure that law enforcement tackles perpetrators of online abuse and we urge the Government to ensure that the independent regulator, Ofcom, has sufficient powers to hold social media companies to account. In time, the OSA will introduce new tools to help users avoid discriminatory abuse. But social media companies don’t need to wait. They can introduce better tools right now so that users are free from unwanted and damaging discrimination."
See: Premier League commitment to tackling discrimination
The Premier League remains committed to tackling all forms of discrimination as part of our No Room For Racism Action Plan, which aims to ensure that football is an inclusive environment for all.
Ways in which the League is tackling discrimination includes the implementation of an online abuse reporting system to support players, managers, coaches and their family members who receive serious discriminatory online abuse.
This includes the League reviewing each case and reporting it to the relevant social media company, before an investigation and legal action is taken where appropriate.
See: How the Premier League supports safety online
The League implemented new enhanced anti-discrimination measures from the 2021/22 season as the League and its clubs continue to work together to make it clear any form of discriminatory behaviour is unacceptable in football and wider society. Clubs agreed to enforce new League-wide punishments, including bans, for any individual found to have behaved in a discriminatory or abusive way towards any club employee, player, match official, matchday steward or fan attending a Premier League match. This covers behaviour conducted in-person or online.
If you see online abuse directed at players, managers, coaches, match officials and their families, you can report it to the Premier League, here.
Leeds United have been fined £40,000, with £20,000 suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season, and warned as to their future conduct for breaching FA Rule E21.1 at the Premier League game involving Newcastle United on Saturday 13 May 2023.
Leeds United admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t use words or behaviour which are improper, offensive, violent, threatening, abusive, insulting or provocative.
An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed an action plan and formal warning upon Millwall for breaching FA Rule E21 three times during their EFL Championship game against Wigan Athletic on Saturday 22 April 2023.
Millwall admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t use words or behaviour which is improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting - with either express or implied reference to religion - in the 8th, 12th and 45th minutes of the game.
English football stands united in its determination to tackle racism and remove all forms of discrimination from our game. Throughout October and beyond, The FA, Premier League, English Football League and Kick it Out will reinforce the message that hate and discrimination will not be tolerated at any level of football and action will be taken against perpetrators.
Alongside PGMOL, Professional Footballers’ Association, League Managers Association and the Football Supporters’ Association, the football organisations are urging fans and participants to report discrimination wherever they see it or hear it, to help make football a safer place for everyone.
All organisations are actively working with clubs and authorities, and remain committed to collaborating further with each other, to ensure those who are found guilty of racist or discriminatory behaviour face strong consequences for their actions.
Sanctions include stadium bans, legal prosecutions and custodial sentences for those found guilty of discriminatory behaviour in either the stadium or online, with additional potential points deductions for clubs within the grassroots game. Education and restorative justice initiatives will also be implemented where appropriate.
This builds on the ongoing work to address unacceptable, discriminatory and illegal behaviour across the game, under the football-wide Love Football. Protect the Game initiative, which aims to ensure that the actions of the minority do not spoil the game for all.
In recent years, football authorities have worked as a group to combat online abuse, and most recently we have lobbied the UK Government extensively in the development of the Online Safety Bill. We will continue to pressure social media companies to do more to tackle hate on their platforms.
But we recognise we can do more. Collectively, we’re deeply committed to ensuring our game is representative of modern society by offering equality of opportunity across the whole of football.
Together, we will continue our work to make football a safer, more welcoming, and more enjoyable space for everyone.
A Bristol Rovers first team coach, Andrew Mangan, has been fined £1,200, reprimanded and warned as to his future conduct by an independent Regulatory Commission for a breach of FA Rule E3.1 that happened at their EFL League One match against Plymouth Argyle on Saturday 22 October 2022.
The FA alleged that his language and/or behaviour towards a Plymouth Argyle staff member during half time of this match was abusive and/or insulting contrary to FA Rule E3.1. The FA further alleged that his actions also constitute an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as they included reference, whether express or implied, to sexual orientation.
Andrew Mangan denied the charge against him and requested a personal hearing. The independent Regulatory Commission found the FA Rule E3.1 breach to be proven, but not the “aggravated breach” defined in FA Rule E3.2, and imposed these sanctions.
Millwall's head of youth recruitment, Barry Dunn, has been suspended from all football and football related activity for eight weeks with immediate effect, fined £525, ordered to attend a mandatory face-to-face education programme and has received a reprimand and warning as to his future conduct, for a breach of misconduct in relation to social media activity.
It was alleged that he interacted with a social media post that is insulting and/or indecent and/or improper contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
It was further alleged this activity constitutes an 'aggravated breach', which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as the post included a reference - whether express or implied - to religion or belief.
Barry Dunn admitted the charge and his sanctions were subsequently imposed by an independent Regulatory Commission following a personal hearing.
Swansea City’s player liaison officer has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for 12 months and fined £1,500 following misconduct in relation to betting.
The FA alleged that Huw Lake had placed 2,476 bets on football matches between 03 April 2018 and 24 September 2023, and he subsequently admitted to this charge.
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed a 12-month ban from all football and football-related activity, with three months to be served immediately and the remainder to be suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season, and £1,500 fine.
The FA appealed against the independent Regulatory Commission’s decision on the grounds that it came to a decision which no reasonable such body could have come; and imposed a penalty, award or sanction that was so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable.
An independent Appeal Board found that the decision to suspend nine months of the suspension was unreasonable and/or so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable, and it substituted a 12-month suspension to be served in its entirety from 25 March 2024.
The written reasons for both the independent Appeal Board and Regulatory Commission’s decisions can be read below.
The FA v Huw Lake - Appeal Board - 21 May 2024
The FA v Huw Lake - 25 March 2024
West Ham United’s Lucas Paqueta has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of FA Rules E5 and F3.
The player has been charged with four breaches of FA Rule E5.1 in relation to his conduct in the club’s Premier League fixtures against Leicester City on 12 November 2022; Aston Villa on 12 March 2023; Leeds United on 21 May 2023; and AFC Bournemouth on 12 August 2023.
It’s alleged that he directly sought to influence the progress, conduct, or any other aspect of, or occurrence in these matches by intentionally seeking to receive a card from the referee for the improper purpose of affecting the betting market in order for one or more persons to profit from betting.
Lucas Paqueta has also been charged with two breaches of FA Rule F3 in respect of alleged failures to comply pursuant to FA Rule F2.
The player has until 03 June 2024 to provide a response to these charges subject to any request for an extension to this deadline.
The FA will be making no further comment until the conclusion of this case.
An independent Regulatory Commission has sanctioned Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali for misconduct in relation to The FA’s Betting Rules.
The FA charged the midfielder with 50 breaches of FA Rule E8 for placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023, and he admitted to this.
The independent Regulatory Commission imposed a two-month suspension from all football and football-related activity, which is suspended until the end of the 2024/25 season pending any further breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules, as well as a £20,000 fine and warning.
The independent Regulatory Commission’s written reasons for these sanctions can be read in full here.
Sandro Tonali has been charged with misconduct in relation to alleged breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
It’s alleged that the Newcastle United midfielder breached FA Rule E8 50 times by placing bets on football matches between 12 August 2023 and 12 October 2023.
Sandro Tonali has until 5 April 2024 to respond.
- The FA, NewCo and others brought together by Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer to bring momentum to delivery of recommendations made in Karen Carney MBE’s Review of Women’s Football
- News comes as the Sports Minister convenes academics and industry stakeholders to explore further opportunities to propel women’s sport forward
- Meetings build on the Government’s existing commitment to support the growth of women and girls’ sport, including the £30 million Lionesses Futures Fund
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer will today convene the first Women’s Football Review Implementation Group, bringing together leaders to deliver the recommendations made in Karen Carney MBE’s blueprint for the domestic women’s game.
Representatives from NewCo - the new independent body responsible for the management of the women’s professional game - the FA, Football Foundation, Sport England, the Sports Ground Safety Authority, Professional Football Association, the English Football League, the Department for Education and the Premier League will be challenged to update the Culture Secretary on progress so far.
The group will be responsible for implementing world-leading standards for players, fans and staff; improving the talent pathway; and carving out a dedicated broadcast slot for women’s football amongst other recommendations.
In December 2023, the Government supported in full the recommendations made in Carney’s review to deliver bold and sustainable growth of women’s football. This came following the publication of the Government’s new sport strategy to get 3.5 million more people active by 2030, including 1.25 million more women.
Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said:
"We are sticking to our plan to deliver increased growth and participation in women’s sport, so that we meet our ambitious target of getting 1.25 million more women active by 2030.
"Last year, the Government supported in full the recommendations made in Karen Carney’s Review of Women’s Football.
"We are now delivering on recommendations made for the Government, including bringing together those responsible for bringing about change to ensure that progress is delivered at pace."
One key recommendation made in the Review was for Government to increase investment to accommodate meaningful access for women and girls to play sport alongside local authorities, the FA and the Premier League.
Progress on this has already been made with the Government’s commitment to invest £30 million to deliver 30 new state of the art 3G pitches at sites supporting women’s and girls’ teams across England via the Lionesses Futures Fund. Government is also taking action to improve equal access through unprecedented investment in grassroots facilities, with over 2,200 projects already delivered across the UK.
Offering her experience and industry knowledge, Carney will join the meeting to hear about what has been delivered so far when it comes to improving the talent pathway and addressing a lack of diversity in women’s football.
Karen Carney MBE said:
"It’s great to see how far we’ve come and the commitment made by the government to women’s football, but we cannot become complacent. It is my hope that the implementation group will ensure that we can progress further at a faster pace, working to get the review’s recommendations in play.
"I am encouraged to see a wide range of stakeholders involved. Through collaboration, investment, and hard work, I truly believe we can make the sport world-leading in every aspect, from playing standards to access for fans and career opportunities for women. The growth of women’s sport represents a wider movement towards equity and I am proud to be part of it."
Three additional independent figures have also joined the Group, providing knowledge and guidance: Kelly Simmons, Sport Consultant and Board Advisor; Jane Purdon, Director and Consultant in both Football and Rugby; and Deborah Dilworth, Head of Women’s Football at the FSA.
In her review, Carney outlined the importance of raising minimum standards, specifically looking at salaries, training facilities and mental and physical wellbeing. During the meeting, NewCo and the FA are expected to outline the initial steps they are taking to deliver a fully professional environment.
Alongside driving progress in women’s football, the Government is committed to raising standards across all women’s sport. Sports Minister Stuart Andrew today chaired the first Board of Women’s Sport meeting, bringing industry leaders and academics together.
The Board will connect relevant leaders from across women’s sport to share insights and look at future opportunities to help women’s sport continue to grow in a sustainable way, with a particular focus on the elite and professional levels.
Sports Minister Stuart Andrew said:
"It has been brilliant to see women and girls’ sport on an upward trajectory for the past few years, but we know there is more to be done.
"We have listened to recommendations in Karen’s Review and brought together key stakeholders from across women’s sport to share best practice on issues female athletes face.
"We want to create a shared vision across women and girls’ sport, helping it go from strength to strength."
Attendees of the first meeting will include representatives from Sport England, UK Sport, UK Sports Institute, alongside experts from FIFA, The Concussion Research Forum and The Well HQ amongst others. Karen Carney MBE and Barbara Slater, Director of BBC Sport, will also join as independent members. The creation of the Board also comes as a recommendation from the Review of Women’s Football.
Discussion is expected to focus on the physical welfare of female athletes including issues such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries and concussion, as well as the impact of female health life stages on an athlete.
Future meetings will focus on topics including sustainable investment in women’s sport and physical and mental health and support, helping create new opportunities and allow women’s sport to reach its full potential.
This comes as the Review of Women’s Football highlighted the lack of cross-sport sharing of best practices around issues that impact elite female athletes. It has been estimated that only 6% of sport exercise and science research involves only women, demonstrating the significant need for research solely based on women.
Huddersfield Town’s Kian Harratt has been suspended for four months and fined £3,200 following breaches of The FA’s Betting Rules.
It was alleged that the forward had breached FA Rule E8.1 by placing 484 bets on football matches between 30 June 2020 and 3 June 2023, and he subsequently admitted to this charge.
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanctions after a hearing, and its written reasons for them can be seen here.
If produced and published, written reasons can be found for Appeal Board hearings by clicking *here* and selecting “County Appeal” on the “Offence Type” dropdown list. Alternatively, use this URL: https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/discipline/written-reasons.
OJM Black Country FC v Midland Football League – 1 December
Appellant: Club
Charge: League Rule 8.34 – Failure to fulfil a fixture
Decision: 3-points deduction, £250 fine, game to be replayed
Result: Appeal Allowed; sanction varied – 3-points deduction quashed, remainder of decision remains as originally imposed.
Written Reasons: https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2023/ojm-black-country-fc-v-midland-football-league---appeal-board---4-december-2023.ashx
Gareth Bowers v West Riding FA – 1 December
Appellant: Manager
Charge: FA Rule E3.1 - acted in a manner that was improper and/or brought the game into disrepute
Sanction: 3-match suspension, a £40 fine, warned as to future conduct
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Lardi FC v Hampshire FA – 13 December
Appellant: Club
Charge: FA Rule E21 - Failed to ensure spectators and/or its supporters (and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any match.
Sanction: a £60 fine
Result: Appeal Allowed; charge and sanction quashed.
Ashley Davies v Gloucestershire FA – 13 December
Appellant: Player (open age)
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official - (including threatening and/or
abusive language/behaviour)
Sanction: 126-days suspension, a £50 fine, to complete an education course and 7 Club penalty points.
Result: Appeal Allowed; sanction varied – touchline and ground/venue suspension removed, remainder of sanction remains as originally imposed.
Written Reasons: https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2024/ashley-davies-v-gloucestershire-fa---appeal-board---8-january-2024.ashx
Staveley Miners Welfare FC v Northern Counties East Football League – 14 December
Appellant: Club
Charge: League Rule 8.43 – Failure to fulfil a fixture
Sanction: a £250 fine
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Wetherby Athletic Junior FC v West Riding FA – 18 December
Appellant: Club
Charge: FA Rule E20 - Failed to ensure directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any Match
Sanction: a £40 fine
Result: Appeal Allowed; charge and sanction quashed.
Written Reasons: https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2023/wetherby-athletic-fc-juniors-v-west-riding-fa---appeal-board---19-december-2023.ashx
Ciaran Gill v Hampshire FA – 19 December
Appellant: Player (open age)
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct - Assault or Attempted Assault on a Match Official
Sanction: 5-year suspension, to complete a face-to-face education course, 5 club penalty points
Result: Appeal Dismissed.
Lee Alder v Berks & Bucks FA – 28 December
Appellant: Player (open age)
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official (including physical
contact or attempted physical contact and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour)
Sanction: 143-day suspension, a £75 fine, 8 club penalty points and to complete an online education course
Result: Appeal Dismissed.
Mtown Rovers FC v Berks & Bucks FA – 28 December
Appellant: Club
Charge: FA Rule E21 - Failed to ensure spectators and/or its supporters (and anyone purporting to
be its supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any Match
Sanction: a £75 fine
Result: Appeal Dismissed.
If produced and published, written reasons can be found for Appeal Board hearings by clicking *here* and selecting “County Appeal” on the “Offence Type” dropdown list. Alternatively, use this URL: https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/discipline/written-reasons.
Daniel Senda has been suspended from all football and football-related activity for four years following misconduct on a course in June 2023 in relation to two complainants.
The FA alleged that the coach’s words and/or behaviour towards Complainant A were improper and/or indecent and/or insulting contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
The FA also alleged that his words and/or behaviour towards Complainant B were improper and/or indecent and/or insulting contrary to FA Rule E3.1.
Daniel Senda subsequently admitted both of these charges. An independent Regulatory Commission imposed his sanction following a hearing and its written reasons can be seen below.
FA Spokesperson: “Women deserve to be involved in professional football without the fear of any form of abuse. This was a shocking case, and we investigated the very serious allegations as soon as we were made aware of them.
“We thank the victims for reporting the incidents to us, and supporting the investigation through to its conclusion, and we are deeply sorry that they endured such a terrible experience.
“The behaviour shown by Daniel Senda in June 2023 will not be tolerated. We will investigate all allegations of sexual assault in a football environment which are reported to us - usually working with the police, but in this case, the incidents happened overseas so were not within the jurisdiction of UK law enforcement.
“We hope that the very lengthy ban serves as a strong deterrent, and a clear signal that women in football will be supported and protected and offenders will be severely punished.”
The FA Rule K arbitration award has been published today following the proceedings by football agencies to challenge National Football Agent Regulations [NFAR] implementation.
Full details can be found HERE.
A Professional Game Board Sub-Committee has ordered the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper tie between Forest Green Rovers and Scarborough Athletic to be replayed on Tuesday 12 December at 19:45.
The FA charged Forest Green Rovers for fielding an ineligible player in the Emirates FA Cup First Round Proper tie against Scarborough Athletic, which constitutes a breach of FA Cup Rule 109, and Forest Green Rovers subsequently admitted this charge.
Forest Green Rovers will now play away to Scarborough Athletic in a one-off match on Tuesday 12 December, and the winner will travel away to Blackpool for a Second Round Proper match on Tuesday 19 December.
On 19 June 2023, The FA confirmed that the agencies CAA Base, Wasserman, Stellar and ARETÉ had commenced arbitration proceedings to challenge the implementation by The FA of the National Football Agent Regulations (NFAR) relating to English domestic transfers.
On 30 November 2023, The FA Rule K Tribunal issued its award following the conclusion of proceedings, which declared that if the FA implements the Fee Cap and the Pro Rata Payment Rules in the NFAR, it will be in breach of the Competition Act 1998.
The full arbitration award remains confidential at this stage, but will be published in accordance with Rule K11.3. Until that time, no further details can be provided.
The FA is considering the implications of the decision and will provide a further update as soon as it is able.
An independent Regulatory Commission has imposed a warning and £5,000 fine on Carlisle United for crowd control misconduct at their match on Saturday 20 May 2023 against Bradford City in the EFL League Two.
The Regulatory Commission suspended £2,000 of the club’s fine pending any further breach of FA Rule E21 before 21 November 2024.
Carlisle United admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t commit any form of pitch incursion.
Alongside Kick It Out, we have today launched a new joint action plan to proactively tackle incidents of discrimination and serious misconduct in grassroots football.
The action plan follows new research we commissioned with Kick It Out, which was undertaken to help identify ways to improve reporting, awareness, and handling of incidents of discrimination and serious misconduct in the grassroots game.
The research confirmed that incidents of discrimination in grassroots football could be more than double the reported figures of 1,894 incidents for the 2021-22 season. It also found that while almost all incidents experienced by ethnic minority groups met sanctioning thresholds, these incidents were significantly more likely to go unreported.
Of the 3,417 participants surveyed, 42% of respondents had encountered a discriminatory incident during their time in grassroots football with 26% experiencing or witnessing discrimination in the past 12 months.
More than a third witnessed abuse based on race (37%), followed by colour (31%) and ethnic origin (26%). In addition, 19% had seen discrimination based on gender, 16% based on sexual orientation and 6% witnessed those with disabilities targeted.
The research also identified a widespread perception among grassroots participants that action would not be taken if discriminatory abuse was reported, with only 34% of respondents believing that incidents lead to a charge. However, while every report is investigated, 62% of reported incidents led to a charge during this period.*
Several barriers to reporting were identified, including fear of the consequences after reporting an incident, a desire by victims to put incidents behind them, low confidence that action will be taken, uncertainty around the seriousness of an incident, and a lack of awareness of the reporting process.
More than half of women (56%) who have experienced discriminatory abuse stated that they experienced it based on their sex or gender.
Abuse is not only classed as verbal, but also less overt forms of discrimination. For example, the survey also included participant feedback saying that there was a greater perception among women and ethnic minorities that they were more likely to not be picked for teams or face decisions going against them based on protected characteristics. Not being welcomed at a club was the second most common form of discriminatory abuse experienced by Asian participants.
Using the insight gathered, alongside Kick It Out we have developed a joint action plan focusing on three areas: increasing awareness and knowledge of serious incidents; improving reporting; and tackling specific problem areas where serious incidents are most prevalent.
As part of this work, Kick It Out has expanded its grassroots team, developed specific educational resources, created better pitch access opportunities for underrepresented groups, and is working to increase the number of clubs and leagues they interact with through Kick It Out’s Equality Charter.
The action plan also builds on our ongoing work to address unacceptable and discriminatory behaviour across the grassroots game, which includes the introduction of point deductions for teams that commit repeated offences. We have also launched a new EDI ambassador scheme across our County FA network, approved reduced regulatory time limits, and is set to expand its body camera trial for more grassroots referees. Meanwhile, we recently launched Enough is Enough, a campaign which aims to raise awareness of discriminatory behaviour and its consequences in grassroots football.
The research comes ahead of us publishing our Annual Discipline Review for the first time, to provide greater transparency on reporting statistics and the number of cases that have resulted in proven outcomes. It is hoped this will improve confidence in the reporting process across the grassroots game.
Tajean Hutton, Kick It Out’s Head of Grassroots Football, said: "It’s clear that discrimination remains a serious issue in grassroots football and that several barriers still exist which prevent participants, particularly ethnic minorities and women, from reporting incidents.
"It’s vital that we find solutions to removing those obstacles and this research gives us invaluable insight into what is happening at a grassroots level, as well as equipping our grassroots team with the knowledge to tackle the issues identified head-on.
"We commend The FA’s commitment to addressing serious incidents in grassroots football and will continue to work closely with our partners across the game to ensure that tackling discrimination is at the top of football’s agenda."
FA Head of Grassroots Operations, Tim Foster, said: "Together with our partners at Kick It Out, we are committed to creating a game that is safe, welcoming and free from any form of discrimination. Building a good understanding of the challenges we face is very important – and this new research provides us with valuable insight that will help us to focus on the key areas where we can make a positive difference.
"Each season, over 100,000 teams participate in over one million fixtures across the country, and whilst reported incidents of discrimination are not commonplace, we know from this research that the number is growing and can often go unreported. To help tackle this, The FA and Kick It Out have developed a joint action plan to ensure that perpetrators face consequences for their actions, with stronger sanctions already in place, whilst also making the reporting of incidents easier and helping to build trust in the process."
Reporting should be everyone’s responsibility – not just those who experience it. If you witness discrimination at a game, report it to the match officials, Kick It Out, The FA, or your local County FA so the matter can be fully investigated.
Together we will Kick it Out.
* This belief is higher among referees (45%) but lower among ethnic minorities groups (30%), particularly people from Asian backgrounds (26%).
Published Monday, 06 November 2023.
Published Tuesday, 31 October 2023.
Sheffield Wednesday have been fined £50,000 and warned as to their future conduct for crowd control misconduct at the EFL League One match against Peterborough United on Thursday 18 May 2023.
Sheffield Wednesday admitted that they failed to ensure their spectators and/or supporters (and anyone purporting to be supporters or followers) conduct themselves in an orderly fashion and don’t commit any form of pitch incursion.
Rochdale’s head groundsman, Joshua Haigh, has been sanctioned for breaching FA Rule E3 at their EFL League Two game against Stockport County on Tuesday 21 February.
It was alleged that his conduct towards a member of the media at the game was abusive and/or insulting and/or improper contrary to Rule E3.1. It was further alleged that this constituted an “aggravated breach”, which is defined in FA Rule E3.2, as it included a reference - whether express or implied - to race and/or colour.
Joshua Haigh denied the charge against him, but it was found proven by an independent Regulatory Commission following a subsequent hearing. The Regulatory Commission imposed a suspension from all football and football-related activity for six weeks, which includes a ground/stadium suspension for the matchday of any Rochdale fixture during that time, face-to-face education and a warning as to his future conduct.
The Football Association Board, Council and Shareholders have collectively agreed to introduce one of the most extensive sets of governance reforms to the FA Council in our 160-year history.
The new reforms to the FA Council will be implemented with immediate effect and will help to ensure that the membership of the FA Council is fully reflective of the modern and diverse game – so that it can better serve the interests of English football at all levels.
This new set of reforms followed a comprehensive and collaborative review that included a consultation process with key stakeholders across the game. The review was led by a Working Group of Council Members, and the proposals were tested and refined with a broader group of Council Members over the last year.
The new reforms will modernise the FA Council in line with the recommendations in the Fan Led Review of Football Governance, which was published in November 2021. These latest reforms follow on from the changes already made to the FA Board which has seen the FA implement the Review's recommendation to ensure that at least 50 per cent of the FA Board is made up of independent directors.
FA Chair, Debbie Hewitt MBE, said: "This is a transformative moment for the governance of the FA and one that will benefit every level of English football. These reforms also follow the important steps we took in July to restructure our FA Board to ensure that it has a majority of independent members.
"The FA Council has an important and active role in the governance of our game, and I would like to thank all of the Council members for their engagement, support and input throughout this collaborative process.
"These are significant changes that we believe will be a catalyst for positive change and will future-proof our game for years to come. Importantly, it will help to further improve the overall governance of the FA, ensuring that across our Board and Council we have committed, engaged and diverse representation, who all have a meaningful part to play in the future of English football."
On 19 June 2023, The FA confirmed that the agencies CAA Base, Wasserman, Stellar and ARETÉ had commenced arbitration proceedings to challenge the implementation by The FA of the National Football Agent Regulations (NFAR) relating to English domestic transfers.
Those arbitration proceedings have now concluded. The Tribunal has indicated that it will issue its award by 30 November 2023. In light of this, The FA agrees that the implementation date of the NFAR (to the extent upheld by the Tribunal) will be delayed until the earlier of (a) 30 November 2023 or (b) the handing-down of the Tribunal's award.
Until such time, The FA's Working With Intermediaries Regulations will remain in force. The FA will provide an update following its receipt of the Tribunal's decision.
Gillingham have been fined £12,500 and ordered to implement an action plan after admitting misconduct in relation to crowd control for incidents at three separate EFL League Two games during the 2022/23 season.
The club failed to ensure that its spectators and/or supporters – and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers – conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at its game against Colchester United on 26 December 2022, and don’t use words or behaviour that are improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting with either express or implied reference to race, colour or ethnic origin.
The club also failed to ensure that its spectators and/or supporters – and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers – conduct themselves in an orderly fashion during its match against Sutton United on 29 December 2022, and don’t use words or behaviour that are improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting with either express or implied reference to gender.
Finally, the club failed to ensure that its spectators and/or supporters – and anyone purporting to be its supporters or followers – conduct themselves in an orderly fashion at its game against AFC Wimbledon on 25 February 2023, and don’t use words or behaviour that are improper, offensive, abusive, indecent, or insulting with either express or implied reference to gender.
An independent Regulatory Commission imposed the club’s sanctions following a hearing, and its written reasons for them can be seen below.
If produced and published, written reasons can be found for Appeal Board hearings by clicking *here* and selecting “County Appeal” on the “Offence Type” dropdown list. Alternatively, use this URL: https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/discipline/written-reasons.
Southend Manor FC v Essex Senior League – 4 July
Appellant: Club
Charge: Failure to fulfil a fixture
Sanction: £645 fine
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Craig Worton v Birmingham FA – 7 July
Appellant: Manager
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official (including abusive language/behaviour).
Sanction: 5-match suspension, £70 fine, warned as to future conduct.
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Dequann Jamaal Ebanks v Berks & Bucks FA – 11 July
Appellant: Coach
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (including threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour)
Sanction: Warning as to future conduct
Result: Appeal Allowed – Sanctions Quashed.
Written Reasons: https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2023/dequann-jamal-ebanks-v-berks-and-bucks-fa---18-may-2023.ashx
Jake Sobalak v Middlesex FA – 12 July
Appellant: Player
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct - Assault or Attempted Assault on a Match Official
Sanction: 343-days suspension (backdated to 11 May 2023), £75 fine, to complete a face-to-face education course, 7 club penalty points.
Result: Appeal Allowed – Remitted for a rehearing.
Grace Lovett v Lincolnshire FA – 13 July
Appellant: Player
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct - Assault or Attempted Assault on a Match Official
Sanction: 1825 Days from 23/03/2023 to 20/03/2028, complete a face-to-face education course, 8 club disciplinary points.
Result: Appeal Allowed – Sanction Varied: 1825 Day to 150 Day Suspension (23/03/2023-20/08/2023), £75 fine.
Written Reasons: https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2023/grace-lovett-v-lincolnshire-fa---appeal-board---13-july-2023.ashx
Mark Cooper v Wiltshire FA – 13 July
Appellant: Player
Charges:
• Charge 1: FA Rule E3 – Improper Conduct (including foul and abusive language)
• Charge 2: FA Rule E3.2 - Improper Conduct - aggravated by a persons Ethnic Origin, Colour, Race, Nationality, Faith, Gender, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation or Disability.
Sanction: 8-Match Suspension, complete an online education course, £65 fine.
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Bayley Vaughan v Essex FA – 18 July
Appellant: Player
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (including violent conduct and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour)
Sanction: 2-match suspension, £25 fine.
Result: Appeal Allowed – Remitted for rehearing.
Written Reasons: https://www.thefa.com/-/media/files/thefaportal/governance-docs/discipline-cases/2023/bayley-vaughan-v-essex-fa---appeal-board---24-july-2023.ashx
Patrick Carton v Amateur FA – 20 July
Appellant: Manager
Charges:
• Charge 1 - FA Rule E3.1 - Improper Conduct (not including threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour).
• Charge 2 - FA Rule E3.1 - Improper Conduct Against a Match Official.
Sanctions:
• Charge 1 – 1-Match Suspension, £20 fine.
• Charge 2 – 2 match suspension, £40 fine.
Result: Appeal Dismissed.
Patrick Carton v Amateur FA – 21 July
Appellant: Manager
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (including violent conduct and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour).
Sanction: 7-match suspension, £90 fine
Result: Appeal Allowed – Sanction Varied (Reduced from 7-match suspension to 3-match suspension, and £90 to £60).
Max Onabanjo v Amateur FA – 21 July
Appellant: Player
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official (including physical contact or attempted physical contact and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour).
Sanction 200-day suspension, £80 fine, complete a face-to-face education course.
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Benjamin Webster v Huntingdonshire FA – 25 July
Appellant: Club Chair
Charges:
• Charge 1: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (not including threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour)
• Charge 2: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official (including abusive language/behaviour)
Sanctions:
• Charge 1: 1-match suspension, £20 fine
• Charge 2: 3-match suspension, £50 fine
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Eric Armanazi v London FA – 25 July
Appellant: Manager
Charge: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official (including abusive language/behaviour).
Sanction: 2-match suspension, £25 fine
Result: Appeal Allowed – Sanction effective from date amended of first qualifying match.
Langley Old Boys v Berks & Bucks FA – 26 July
Appellant: Club
Charge: FA Rule E20 - Failed to ensure directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any Match
Sanction: £75 fine
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Adam Garget v Durham FA – 26 July
Appellant: Manager
Charges:
• Charge 1: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (including foul and abusive language)
• Charge 2: FA Rule E3.2 - Improper Conduct - aggravated by a persons Ethnic Origin, Colour, Race, Nationality, Faith, Gender, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation or Disability
Sanction: 6-match suspension sanction, a £30 fine complete an online education programme.
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Jason Smith v Lancashire FA – 27 July
Appellant: Manager
Charges:
• Charge 1: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct (including foul and abusive language)
• Charge 2: FA Rule E3.2 - Improper Conduct - aggravated by a persons Ethnic Origin, Colour, Race, Nationality, Faith, Gender, Gender Reassignment, Sexual Orientation or Disability
Sanction: 8-match suspension and complete an online education programme
Result: Appeal Dismissed – sanction increased: 12-match suspension and complete a face-to-face education programme
Rhys Flitton v Surrey FA – 27 July
Appellant: Player
Charges:
• Charge 1: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct - Assault or Attempted Assault on a Match Official
• Alternate Charge 1: FA Rule E3 - Improper Conduct against a Match Official (including physical contact or attempted physical contact)
Sanction: 5-year sanction (from 03/02/23), complete a face-to-face education programme, 10 Club penalty points.
Result: Appeal Allowed - Remitted for Rehearing
Sporting Meadows FC v Leicestershire & Rutland FA – 28 July
Appellant: Club
Charges:
• Charge 1: FA Rule E20 - Failed to ensure directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any Match.
• Charge 2: FA Rule E20 - Failed to ensure directors, players, officials, employees, servants, representatives, conduct themselves in an orderly fashion whilst attending any Match.
Sanctions:
• Charge 1: £80 fine
• Charge 2: £175 fine
Result: Appeal Dismissed
Published Thursday, 20 July 2023.
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