The Football Association [The FA] has today confirmed key additions, amendments and clarifications to its Rules & Regulations ahead of the new season.
From the start of the 2019/20 season, match officials can issue technical area occupants with yellow and red cards for cautions and dismissals respectively in the following competitions:
- Premier League
- EFL [English Football League]
- Vanarama National League
- Emirates FA Cup [First Round Proper on]
- Carabao Cup
- EFL Trophy
- Buildbase FA Trophy
- Barclays FA Women's Super League
- FA Women's Championship
- Women's FA Cup
- FA Women’s Continental League Cup
Automatic and immediate touchline bans will result from the accumulation of cautions from match officials and will be triggered when individuals reach the following thresholds:
| Number of cautions | Suspension |
| Four | One match |
| Eight | Two matches |
| Twelve | Three matches |
| Sixteen | Misconduct charge and Regulatory Commission |
Any participant who commits an ‘aggravated breach’ of FA Rule E3[1], which is defined in FA Rule E3[2] as a reference, whether express or implied, to any one or more of the following: ethnic origin; colour; race; nationality; religion or belief; gender; gender reassignment; sexual orientation or disability, and it is found proven as a first offence by a Regulatory Commission, will receive a mandatory minimum suspension of at least six matches. That suspension may also be increased depending on any additional aggravating factors.
The FA has also started a consultation process with key stakeholders across the game – including the Leagues, the PFA, the LMA, Kick It Out and others – with the aim of reviewing its sanctioning guidelines for proven cases of discrimination. This review involves working on a range of projects with stakeholders in football to combat discrimination, both on and off-the-pitch. As part of this, The FA is reviewing what the minimum match-based suspension for proven cases of discrimination should be to ensure the deterrent in place is appropriate and effective.
Video Assistant Referees [VAR] will be active in the Premier League throughout the 2019/20 season. In addition, VAR will also be utilised in the Emirates FA Cup in all matches from the Quarter Finals onward and in selected matches played at Premier League grounds in the Third, Fourth and Fifth Rounds Proper. While increased use of VAR may reduce the number of on-field incidents typically subjected to retrospective action, it will nevertheless remain available should The FA believe that there may be a case to answer.
Further information and background guidance in relation to the Rules and Regulations can be found via The FA’s new ‘Media Essentials Guide’ for the 2019/20 season.
