FA ramps up anti-racism measures with stiff new minimum bans for discriminatory abuse

The Football Association has announced significantly tougher sanctions for discriminatory and racist behaviour ahead of the 2026-27 season, including the power to impose suspensions of more than 12 matches for serious or repeat offences.

The FA said via its official website that it remains “fully committed to providing a football environment free from discrimination”, and has therefore moved to introduce stronger measures to combat racism across the game.

Under updated disciplinary guidelines, regulatory commissions will now be required to issue a suspension of at least 10 matches for any incident deemed to involve racist behaviour.

Commissions will retain discretion to go beyond that threshold where they are satisfied there are “aggravating factors of substantial importance”. They may also reduce the length of the ban below 10 matches if they identify one or more significant mitigating factors, but in such cases the suspension cannot be lower than six games.

What constitutes an ‘aggravated offence’

The term “aggravated offence” is defined in Rule E3.2 of the FA’s regulations as any act of improper conduct that includes a direct or indirect reference to one or more of the following protected characteristics: ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, or disability.

The FA guidance adds that where an aggravated offence is committed solely in writing or via any form of communication, and an additional listed mitigating factor is present, a commission may consider imposing a suspension of fewer than six matches.

However, any such decision must be judged to be in the interests of combating discrimination in football. Even in these cases, the commission is required to impose a ban of no fewer than three games.

Harsher sanctions for repeat offenders

The FA stressed that any further aggravated offences committed by the same individual participant will be treated with “the utmost seriousness”, and punishments for repeat offences will be more severe than those imposed for a first breach.

If a regulatory commission finds that an individual participant has committed two or more aggravated offences on separate occasions, it will have the authority to impose any sanction it considers appropriate and proportionate.

That includes the possibility of suspensions exceeding 12 matches or time-based bans of any length in the most serious cases.

Regulatory commissions may also opt for time-based sanctions rather than match-based suspensions for any individual participant if they consider that a ban measured in games would not be suitable in light of the person’s role and responsibilities within the sport.

Rules for youth players

Separate guidance will apply to younger age groups.

For players aged between 12 and 15, a regulatory commission will be able to impose a ban covering any number of matches within a time period it deems appropriate, provided the suspension is for at least one game.

If a player in that age bracket commits a further aggravated offence, the starting point for any new sanction will be an 11-match suspension. Commissions may increase or decrease that length in line with any aggravating or mitigating factors, but the punishment must not be reduced below seven matches.

In cases involving players under the age of 12 who commit an aggravated offence, the FA regulations state they will not be suspended. Instead, they will be required to complete an educational and awareness programme as an alternative measure.

The strengthened framework is designed to ensure that discriminatory behaviour across all levels of English football is met with clear, consistent and more severe consequences, while allowing limited flexibility for commissions to take account of context in individual cases.