A BROMSGROVE man has been given a five-month ban from all football-related activities after being charged by the FA for using a racist phrase at a league meeting last year.
Neil Juggins, of Badger Way, Blackwell, has also been ordered to pay a £100 fine and told to attend an education course within four months of the start of his suspension which comes into force on Monday.
The course aims to ensure people found to have committed such offences understand why they were offensive and encourage more positive behaviour.
Mr Juggins, who is the chief executive of the West Midlands (Regional) League, was reported to the FA after allegedly using abusive and/or insulting words at the league’s summit in July.
It was further alleged it was an aggravated breach of conduct as it included a reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race.
FA chiefs launched an investigation into the incident and requested a paper hearing – a tribunal where only written evidence is considered and the individual in question does not need to be present.
The FA confirmed Mr Juggins admitted the allegations and he was subsequently charged on Tuesday.
His wife Wendy, who is also the league’s chairman, said her husband would not comment on the charge but revealed he would be appealing the severity of the ban.
A spokesperson for Kick It Out, the organisation which challenges discrimination in football, said they would not be commenting while the appeal process was ongoing.
