Ahead of the 2026-27 season, The FA has implemented strengthened sanction guidelines for any ‘aggravated breaches’ by individual participants.
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.
An ‘aggravated breach’ is defined in FA Rule E3.2 as 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.
Over the past few seasons, match-based suspensions ranging from 6 to 12 matches were recommended to independent Regulatory Commissions for any ‘aggravated breaches’ by players, managers, or technical area occupants.
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.
Regulatory Commissions may impose a sanction above the standard 10-match suspension if they are satisfied that there are significant aggravating factors present.
Regulatory Commissions may consider imposing a sanction below the standard 10-match suspension if they are satisfied that a mitigating factor or mitigating factors of significant number or weight is/are present and, save for in exceptional circumstances, the individual has admitted the breach at the earliest reasonable available opportunity. A suspension of no less than 6 matches must still be imposed in these circumstances.
If the ‘aggravated breach’ takes place ‘in writing only or via any communication device’ and a further prescribed mitigating factor is present, a Regulatory Commission may consider imposing a suspension below 6 matches. However, any such decision must be in the best interests of tackling discrimination in football and a Regulatory Commission must in any event impose a suspension of no less than 3 matches in these cases.
Any further ‘aggravated breaches’ by individual participants will be treated with the utmost seriousness and the sanction for such offences will be greater than the sanction for their first or previous offence.
Where Regulatory Commissions find an individual participant to have committed two or more ‘aggravated breaches’ on separate occasions, they will have the power to impose any sanction that is appropriate and proportionate to the offences committed. This includes a suspension in excess of 12 matches or time-based suspensions of any duration in very serious cases.
Regulatory Commissions can impose time-based suspensions on any individual participant where match-based sanctions would not be appropriate based on their role and responsibilities within the game.
Where a player is 12-15 years old, a Regulatory Commission may suspend any number of matches for a time period that it considers appropriate, but at least a one-match suspension must be served. If the player commits any further ‘aggravated breach’, the entry point for suspension will be 11 matches. A Regulatory Commission can depart from this entry point if aggravating or mitigating factors are present, but the minimum suspension must be seven matches.
If any player under the age of 12 commits an ‘aggravated breach’, they will be subject to an education programme rather than a suspension.
