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.

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.

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.

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.

There has been an increase in the use of flares and smoke bombs at football matches over the last year. A recent decision from an FA Regulatory Commission dealt with Richarlison de Andrade’s throwing of a flare back into the stands at Goodison Park, and there have been increased efforts to stamp down on their use generally. This articles explains the Regulatory Commission’s decision and considers those efforts.

On Sunday 18 April the European Super League (“ESL”) issued a press release stating that ‘Twelve of Europe’s leading football clubs today come together to announce they have agreed to establish a new mid-week competition, the Super League, governed by its Founding Clubs’. This article considers what challenges the ESL and its Founding Clubs face in seeking to create its proposed new mid-week competition, and whether the ESL could oppose those challenges.

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.

Kieran Trippier’s 10-week worldwide ban from all football related activity has come unstuck courtesy of Atlético. This article explains how The FA was unsuccessful in its application to vary the effective date of the 10-week suspension in an attempt to avoid the disruption caused by Atlético.

On 22 December 2020 it was announced that Kieran Trippier was sanctioned with a 10-week worldwide suspension from all football-related activity and a £70,000 fine. The sanction was imposed following proved charges against Trippier that he had provided inside information to others and which was then used by those others to place bets. This article explains how those charges were proved and why the sanction was imposed, and also considers the appropriateness of the sanction.

The FA has released its Governing Body Endorsement (“GBE”) criteria to be applied to all foreign players and coaches sought to be employed by football clubs in England once the Brexit implementation period ends on 31 December 2020. This article provides an explanation of the GBE criteria that applies when clubs are signing men’s players.

Recent decisions concerning a dispute between the TTFA and FIFA have demonstrated the foundational aspect of the FIFA Statutes to the laws of world football, and FIFA’s position at the apex of football’s governing bodies. This article explains those decisions and provides comments from Jonathan Walker, an attorney who represented FIFA throughout.

The Brexit implementation period ends on 31 December 2020, bringing an end to freedom of movement. Football clubs seeking to sign EEA nationals as players from 1 January 2021 will be required to comply with the Home Office's Points-Based System and The FA's Governing Body Endorsement criteria, which will have a negative impact on the number of European players entering the English game.

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.