The Football Association (FA) has announced a revision to its disciplinary rules, increasing the minimum suspension for players found guilty of discriminatory conduct to 10 games. This marks a tightening from previous guidelines, which recommended bans ranging between six and 12 matches for such offenses.

Under the updated rules, any misconduct involving explicit or implicit references to ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion, sex, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation, or disability will result in a minimum 10-game ban. The revised regulations extend beyond players to include managers and other officials involved in the sport.

The FA emphasized its ongoing commitment to eradicating discrimination within football, acknowledging progress but noting that discriminatory conduct remains an ongoing challenge. The new measures aim to strengthen the sport's stance against bigotry and reinforce a zero-tolerance approach.

In addition to the minimum 10-game sanctions, the FA stated that longer suspensions could be imposed if there are significant aggravating circumstances surrounding the misconduct. The enhancement of these rules reflects the organization’s intent to deliver a game free from discrimination and uphold integrity across all levels of football in England.