FA toughens sanctions on EPL players for discrimination offences

Premier League players found guilty of discrimination offences will face a minimum 10-match ban under ​strengthened English Football Association sanction guidelines for aggravated ‌breaches, the governing body said on Thursday.

"Enhanced measures are necessary to tackle this abhorrent conduct, and our updated ​sanction guidelines will now require Regulatory Commissions ​to impose a standard suspension of at least ⁠10 matches in these circumstances," the FA ​said in a statement.

An aggravated breach covers misconduct ​involving an explicit or implied reference to a person's ethnicity, colour, race, nationality, religion, gender, sexual orientation or disability.

The FA's ​recommended match suspensions for players, managers and ​technical-area occupants found guilty of aggravated breaches had previously ranged ‌from ⁠six to 12 games.

Under the revised guidelines, longer bans may be imposed where significant aggravating factors exist. A reduced sanction can be considered if mitigating ​circumstances are ​present and ⁠the individual admits the offence at the earliest opportunity.

The minimum suspension in ​such cases will be six matches, with ​penalties ⁠below that threshold available only when the aggravated breach occurred solely in writing.

Players or officials found guilty ⁠of ​a second aggravated breach will ​face a stronger sanction than for a first offence.