Your go-to resource for overviews of football’s institutions and procedures, and analysis of the latest football law news and decisions.
The Premier League Outfoxed?
On 3 September 2024, it was announced that Leicester City FC ("LCFC") had successfully appealed against a Disciplinary Commission's decision on jurisdiction in relation to LCFC's alleged breach of the Premier League's Profitability and Sustainability Rules for the season 2022/23. This article analyses the Appeal Board's decision and considers whether it was the right one.
Everton’s Appeal Provides Sanction Guidance
On 26 February 2024, it was announced that Everton Football Club (“EFC”) had succeeded in its appeal against a Premier League Commission’s decision to sanction EFC with an immediate ten-point deduction for EFC’s breach of the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules. The Appeal Board’s decision provides valuable guidance on how to approach sanction in such cases.
Marco Da Silva and Aleksander Mitrovic Provide Key Case
The recent FA Regulatory Commission and FA Appeal Board decisions involving Marco Da Silva and Aleksander Mitrovic of Fulham FC provide helpful guidance to those involved with FA disciplinary proceedings.
The FA v Chris Maguire: What are the Odds?
The recent case of The FA v Chris Maguire provided a rare example of a successful appeal against a Regulatory Commission’s decision concerning sanctions imposed on a Participant for breaches of The FA Rules, rule E8.1. This article explains the original and appeal decision, and provides a useful reminder of the importance of sanction guidelines and the need for Regulatory Commissions to provide sufficiently clear written reasons.
The FA v Louza: One Standard of Proof to Rule Them All
A recent decision by an FA Appeal Board in the case of The FA v Imran Louza considered the standard of proof applicable to cases of “serious Misconduct” and the proposition that the more serious the allegation the more cogent the evidence must be to prove the same. This article explains the FA Appeal Board’s written reasons and considers whether the same has caused any change.
Offences Against Match Officials: Where to Draw the Line?
What constitutes an ‘assault’ in the FA Disciplinary Regulations? Where is the line to be drawn within the FA Disciplinary Regulations between an ‘assault’ and the lesser offence of ‘physical contact’? A recent decision of an FA Appeal Board has provided some much-needed clarity on this issue but also raised further questions that need answering.
Thomas Tuchel and the Handshake Rumble
At the end of a hotly contested Premier League match between Chelsea FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC on 14 August 2022, Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte shook hands and an incident followed. Both managers were charged with a breach of rule E3.1 of The FA Rules and were sanctioned by an FA Regulatory Commission. Mr Tuchel received a more severe sanction and then unsuccessfully appealed against the same to an FA Appeal Board. This article explains both decisions.