Player's 10-match ban over discriminatory comment

A football player has been banned for 10 matches after an independent panel found he had made a discriminatory comment towards an opposition player.

Alex Francis, of Salford's Irlam FC, had denied making the comments against a Hallam FC player during an FA Cup match in Sheffield on 9 August, which an FA spokesperson said included a reference to nationality.

The FA said an independent National Serious Case Panel found the allegation to be proven following a hearing and said Francis had until 4 September to appeal against the decision.

Hallam FC secretary Ashley Carson said the punishment was "rightly deserved", adding: "We don't support this sort of thing going on." Irlam FC declined to comment.

The player's suspension is due to start on Monday.

Carson added: "We support the decision and appreciate the FA taking a hard line on stuff like this."

He said the match referee had heard the comment and reported it, adding: "Referees get stick, but he did the right thing on this."

Irlam went on to win the match 3-0.

Kick It Out, a charity which works to combat discrimination in football, said it had received a new high of 1,744 reports during the 2025-26 season, which represented a 25% increase on its previous campaign, which had also seen a record high for reports of abuse.

The charity said the figures "show discrimination remains a serious and growing challenge across the sport at a time of political and social tension, but that record reporting numbers suggest a continued willingness to call it out".

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