The FA is to increase the minimum punishment for discriminatory behaviour to 10 matches, in an attempt to counteract behaviour it says “continues to be a challenge across the game”.
The changes will come into force at the start of the new season and will apply to players and other football participants who are found guilty of an “aggravated breach” of the FA’s disciplinary rules on improper conduct, effectively actions that included discriminatory behaviour against any protected characteristics. Currently the minimum suspension for such a breach is six matches.
Across the 2025-26 season 10 individuals were found guilty of aggravated breaches, with their punishments, decided by independent Regulatory Commissions, ranging from six to nine matches. Under the new rules a punishment of fewer than 10 matches will only be allowed if sufficient mitigating factors have been presented, and the individual themselves has pleaded guilty to the charge.
Among the cases heard involved the Preston’s Milutin Osmajic, in which the Montenegrin was found to have made racist remarks to the Burnley player Hannibal Mejbri during a Championship match. Osmajic, who denied making the remarks, was served with a nine-match ban and given a minimum fine of £20,000. There has been growing concern that the behaviour of players in the professional game has trickled down the pyramid, creating greater problems in the grassroots game.
“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,” the FA said in a statement. “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.”
The new rules do afford commissions some flexibility. Cases that involve aggravated breaches “in writing only or via any communication device” – ie comments made online – could receive a punishment as low as three matches in the event of mitigating factors being accepted. If, however, an individual found to have breached the rules then commits a second offence, bans of over a year could be applied.
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