PFA back five-match racism ban
The Professional Footballers’ Association have given their backing to the FA’s new proposal over plans for a minimum five-match ban for racist abuse.
The sanction is one of a number of proposals being discussed earlier in the weel by the game’s ruling bodies, but has yet to be agreed by the FA.
In a tweet posted on their official Twitter feed, the PFA wrote: “The PFA have agreed proposals with the FA that ‘racist abuse’ should carry a minimum five-match ban.”
PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor said: “It has not gone through yet but we are not opposed to it. We want there to be some consistency and to illustrate the seriousness of our approach to this issue.”
Punishment for perpetrators currently remains at the discretion of FA disciplinary panels, but recent high-profile racism cases have prompted calls for the authorities to clarify their stance.
Chelsea captain John Terry received a four-match suspension in September for racially abusing QPR’s Anton Ferdinand. while Liverpool’s Luis Suarez received an eight-match ban in December 2011 for his abuse of Patrice Evra.
The PFA also propose all players and managers from overseas to have “cultural lessons” to make them aware of English rules on discrimination under the proposals to tackle racism. Until now only apprentices have been given such courses.
