The recent decision of an FA Appeal Board in Craig Walton v Birmingham County FA (“Walton”) raises several questions of procedural fairness and natural justice. This article analyses the FA Appeal Board’s approach to allowing the appeal in Walton, and addresses shortcomings in the FA’s Disciplinary Regulations and Whole Game System.

On 5 April 2023, Daniel Podence of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC was charged with a breach of the FA Rules, rule E1.1 for allegedly spitting at Nottingham Forest FC’s Brennan Johnson when the two teams played in a Premier League fixture at the City Ground on 1 April 2023. This article provides a case summary of the Regulatory Commission’s decision finding that the charge was not proved.

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 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.

At the end of Everton FC’s match against Manchester United FC on 9 April 2022, Cristiano Ronaldo was videoed slapping a mobile phone out of a 14-year-old’s hand as he walked down the players’ tunnel after the match had finished. Ronaldo was charged by The FA for a breach of rule E3.1 of The FA Rules, which he admitted. This article explains the Regulatory Commission’s approach to determining the appropriate sanction to impose on Ronaldo.

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.

On 11 March 2021 the FA announced that an FA Regulatory Commission had sanctioned referee Darren Drysdale with a four-match backdated suspension for an incident involving Ipswich Town FC’s Alan Judge during an EFL League One match. This article summarises and explains the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision and considers whether Alan Judge could also face a charge in respect of the same incident.

On 12 February 2021 the FA Regulatory Commission’s decision on the sanction imposed on Nathaniel Mendez-Laing for a breach of the FA’s Anti-Doping Regulations (“FAADR”) was announced. This article explains how the lex mitior principle applied to this breach of the FAADR and allowed Mr Mendez-Laing to avoid a potential two-year suspension.

On 31 December 2020 it was announced that Edinson Cavani had admitted a charge of an Aggravated Breach of the FA Rules, rule E3.1 in respect of an Instagram story post. A FA Regulatory Commission subsequently sanctioned Cavani with a three-match suspension, a £100,000 fine, and attendance at an education programme. This article explains why that sanction was appropriate.

Dele Alli was recently sanctioned with a one-match ban, a £50,000 fine and attendance at an education programme following a Snapchat video he posted that depicted an unacceptable racist stereotype. This article explains how that decision was made and whether the sanctions imposed go far enough to kick out racism.