New FA policy on bans for bad tackles

THE FA has announced that disciplinary chiefs will be able to take into account the severity of injuries caused by fouls when dealing with red card offences from now on.

Bans can now be increased – or reduced – by the regulatory commissions who will “take account of a number of important specified factors including intent, force and injury’’.

The change follows a number of serious injuries suffered by players in recent seasons where the perpetrators were red-carded and received a standard three-match ban.

Newcastle midfielder Danny Guthrie was one example last season when he broke the leg of Hull’s Craig Fagan with a reckless challenge, and Birmingham’s Martin Taylor also received a three-game ban for his foul on the Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva in February 2008.

“Clubs can now seek a reduction in the standard punishment for dismissal offences where they feel the punishment is clearly excessive,’’ read an FA statement. “The standard punishment will remain appropriate in the vast majority of cases as this change will only cater for the truly exceptional cases.

“When considering such cases, independent regulatory commissions will take account of a number of important specified factors including intent, force and injury.’’