The FA has released its Annual Grassroots Disciplinary Review for the 2023-24 season, covering Step 5 and below in the men’s football pyramid and Step 3 and below in the women’s football pyramid. The review provides an in-depth analysis of serious misconduct, including discriminatory behaviour, assaults on match officials, and participant-on-participant offences, as well as general misconduct.
The 2023-24 season saw a 13% increase in charges issued for allegations of serious misconduct, with 2,561 charges recorded. Discrimination-related charges also rose by 17%. This upward trend reflects both increased levels of reporting and the growing volume of grassroots football being played across the country.
Tackling serious offences
The FA has made tackling serious misconduct a strategic priority, focusing on incidents involving protected characteristics, threats, physical assaults, and other forms of unacceptable behaviour. While such offences occur in only 0.1% of grassroots football annually, their impact is significant, prompting the FA to take a zero-tolerance approach.
Key achievements for the season include:
- Record sanctions: Discrimination charges resulted in over 5,510 match bans and 1,300 hours of educational courses.
- Proven cases: 71% of discrimination-related charges were upheld, with average bans lasting seven matches.
FA Director of Football Development, James Kendall, said it was important to tackle unacceptable behaviour to create a safer and more enjoyable football environment. He said: “Tackling unacceptable behaviour is a key strategic priority for us, and we are determined to drive this out of our game. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the levels of serious misconduct across grassroots football, and we are encouraged that more people feel confident to report these incidents to us.
“Unacceptable behaviour will not be tolerated, and we have made it clear that perpetrators will face serious consequences through our tougher sanctions for both players and clubs. We all have a collective responsibility to improve the behaviour and culture in our game, and we strongly encourage all participants to continue to report incidents of misconduct so we can help to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all.”
Building a better future
The FA has introduced several measures as part of its broader efforts to inspire positive change through football. These include:
- New penalty point systems and revamped sin-bins to enforce better standards.
- Body cam pilots for match officials to improve referee safety.
- The Grassroots Code of Conduct to reinforce positive behaviour.
- Enhanced league sanctions, including points deductions for clubs where misconduct occurs.
The FA has also relaunched its ‘Enough is Enough’ campaign, aimed at raising awareness of discriminatory behaviour and highlighting the consequences for those engaging in hate speech or actions.
Grassroots referee numbers reach record high
In a positive sign for grassroots football, referee numbers grew by 20% during the 2023-24 season, with over 37,000 match officials now active in England. Retention rates also reached a record high, with 80% of referees continuing in the role.
FA Senior Discipline Manager Alan Darfi noted that transparency and collaboration remains vital tackling misconduct. He said: “We are committed to publishing our grassroots disciplinary review every year to provide transparency across the game. We care deeply about the impact that unacceptable behaviour is having on grassroots football, and we have been working closely with our County FA network across the country to tackle this important issue. This includes applying tougher sanctions, celebrating positive behaviour and promoting collective responsibility to help raise the standards in our game.”
Committed to diversity and inclusion
As part of its ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ initiative, the FA is to continue to implement its new four-year strategy, ‘A Game Free From Discrimination.’ This strategy focuses on boosting representation, driving inclusion, and tackling discrimination, ensuring football remains a sport for everyone.
At Cranleigh FC, these values resonate strongly as the club strives to provide a positive, inclusive environment for players, coaches, and supporters and we support the FA fully in its mission.
DOWNLOAD THE ANNUAL GRASSROOTS DISCIPLINARY REVIEW HERE
