FA will speed up disciplinary process

The Football Association have stressed their ongoing commitment to speed up their disciplinary process amid criticism from Sven-Goran Eriksson at the time taken to resolve Rio Ferdinand’s case.

Eriksson declared that it was “crazy” for Ferdinand to be waiting for his case still to be heard almost two months after failing to take a drugs test.

But his is by no means the only example of overdue cases being stockpiled in the FA’s disciplinary department, with Joe Cole yet to learn his fate on a charge incurred while still a West Ham player last season.

The FA are aware this is an area in which considerable improvement is needed, chief executive Mark Palios having identified it as a target issue when he took over this summer.

One solution reportedly under investigation is a weekly disciplinary panel, which would sit on Thursdays and have the power to dish out on-the-spot punishments.

This proposal will presumably be considered by Brendon Batson, the former players’ union deputy chief executive who was recently hired by the FA to head their disciplinary review.

Batson has already established a working party, involving members of the Professional Footballers Association, League Managers Association, Premier League, Football League and the grass-roots of the game.

This group is expected to report back in the coming months, with changes set to be introduced for the start of next season.

FA head of media Adrian Bevington said: “Mark Palios made a clear and firm commitment to tackle this issue just a few weeks after taking on his role.

“It is also something which has been reinforced in the past couple of weeks, with the appointment of Brendon Batson – who is respected throughout the game - to help co-ordinate the review process.”