Sports law highlights

The FA v Trippier (no 2) (Regulatory Commission, 13th January 2021)

Issue(s):

Can an FA Regulatory Commission vary the start date of a sanction in light of a FIFA ruling that the sanction's world-wide effect be stayed?

Kieran Trippier was found to have breached Rule E8(1) for betting related offences, including providing inside information in respect of his pending move from Tottenham Hotspur FC to Atletico Madrid. On 18 December 2020, the Regulatory Commission sanctioned Trippier by banning him for 10 weeks from all football and football-related effective from 21 December 2020. The FA then applied for the sanction to be given worldwide effect by FIFA, given Tr...

The London FA v Bakare (Regulatory Commission, 4th September 2020)

Issue(s):

What level of sanction is appropriate where a match official is assaulted?

Mathias Bakare struck a referee three times after being shown a red card. Bakare was charged with an assault on a Match Official in breach of rule E3(1) and the charge was admitted. The Regulatory Commission issued a 10-year suspension to Bakare, notwithstanding the fact that the incident was a one-off and out-of-character act.

The FA v Cavani (Regulatory Commission, 4th January 2021)

Issue(s):

Could Cavani have reasonably known that his social media post would cause offence?

Edinson Cavani, Manchester City player, admitted to an offence under rule E3(2) (an E3(1) offence aggravated by reference to race) after he used the phrase "Gracias negrito" in a social media post. Cavani asserted that he had used the phrase as a term of endearment to address a friend. The FA did not contest Cavani's version of events and the Regulatory Commission, applying the sanction guidelines for aggravated breaches, found that the circumsta...

The FA v Silva and Mitrovic (Appeal Board, 25th April 2023)

Issue(s):

Were the 2-match suspensions against Messrs Silva and Mitrovic so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable? How should a Regulatory Commission approach sanction?

Following the FA Cup Quarter Final 2023 (Manchester United v Fulham), Marco da Silva (Fulham Manager) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (Fulham Striker), were charged with various acts of abusive, insulting and improper conduct against the match officials. The acts included throwing a water bottle at an assistant referee and elbowing the match referee. The FA's Regulatory Commission (the "RC") found the charges against Silva and Mitrovic proven and sanctio...

Queens Park Rangers FC (Begovic) v The FA (Regulatory Commission, 7th October 2023)

Issue(s):

Did Asmir Begovic deny an obvious goal-scoring opportunity? Was the decision to dismiss him a clear and obvious error?

On 4 October 2023, Asmir Begovic was dismissed during an EFL Championship game against Leeds United FC for allegedly denying Patrick Bamford of a goal scoring opportunity. The dismissing referee, David Webb, This was in breach of IFAB, Law 12. On an application from QPR, the Regulatory Commission reviewed the in-game footage and found that Begovic made no contact with Bamford and rescinded the standard punishment.