The Football Association will introduce a minimum 10-match ban for players found guilty of discrimination from the new season, strengthening its previous standard minimum suspension of six matches. The change also covers managers and others in technical areas, and is intended to reinforce the FA’s commitment to tackling discriminatory behaviour in football.

The rules apply to aggravated misconduct involving references to race, ethnicity, nationality, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or disability. Regulatory commissions may impose longer bans where aggravating factors are significant, while a reduced minimum six-match suspension will only be considered for mitigating circumstances or an early admission; repeat offenders could face bans beyond 12 matches or time-based suspensions in very serious cases.