A Pro Ref referee observer has been banned for nine weeks and fined £200 after making discriminatory remarks following a match he was working at.
The disciplinary action was taken by the governing body after the observer's comments were deemed to be in breach of the sport’s anti‑discrimination code. The observer was not identified in the statement, but the sanction was imposed immediately following the incident.
Under the rules that apply to all officials and observers in the game, any form of discriminatory language or behaviour is taken seriously. The nine‑week ban means the individual will be unable to attend any matches in an official capacity during that period.
Alongside the ban, a fine of £200 has been levied to underscore the seriousness of the offence and to serve as a deterrent to others who might consider similar conduct.
Officials and observers are expected to uphold the highest standards of conduct, reflecting the sport’s commitment to inclusivity and respect for all participants and spectators.
<small>Source: BBC Sport — read the original story there.</small>