The FA have today announced a new set of measures to help improve behaviour in grassroots football.

These new interventions, which will come into effect from the start of the 2024-25 season, are aimed to drive positive behaviour across grassroots football and act as a clear deterrent against unacceptable behaviour. They also form part of the ‘Love Football. Protect The Game’ campaign to introduce enhanced measures and tougher sanctions so that everyone can enjoy the game in a positive and enjoyable environment.

A new behaviour improvement programme will see penalty points accumulations introduced in the grassroots game from the start of the 2024-25 season to identify the worst offending clubs for incidents of behavioral offences such as dissent and violent conduct, along with poor overall matchday respect scores. This builds on the steps taken last season to allow for deductions of points from clubs that are repeated offenders of serious misconduct.

Key updates for the 2024-25 season include: 

New penalty points accumulations

Penalty points will be attributed to clubs for offences that are behavioural based, such as dissent, violent conduct or threatening behaviour. When a threshold of accumulated penalty points is reached, bespoke support will be provided to the club and they will be asked to evidence steps that are being taken to tackle their poor behaviour. Ultimately, ongoing accumulation of penalty points can lead to removal of England Football Accreditation or even the removal of a team from a competition.

Continued league points deductions

Following on from the introduction of points deductions in grassroots football last season, we are committed to tackling repeat offenders and points deductions can be applied to clubs where there are repeated incidents of serious misconduct, for example, discriminatory abuse from spectators. 

Revamped Sinbins

Sinbin protocols have been simplified to drive consistency of use and to enforce the message that dissent will not be tolerated. The previous sinbin matrix has been removed and a dissent offence will now be treated as a standard caution, with the additional punishment of time being spent in the sinbin.

New Grassroots Code of Conduct

A new Respect Standard, supported by Codes of Conduct, has been launched for the 2024-25 season, clearly setting out expectations of behaviours in the grassroots game: Enjoy the Game; Give Respect; Be Inclusive; Work Together; and Play Safe. These will be distributed to all grassroots clubs, with participants encouraged to embrace the expected standards of behaviour.  

See the Standards of Behaviour in action

Here are a few examples of how embracing the Standards can make football a better experience for everyone. Respect the Standard promotes The Grassroots Code and Standards of Behaviour to everyone, including players, coaches, officials , parents and supporters.

FA CEO Mark Bullingham said: “We have clear standards of behaviour which we expect all grassroots football clubs, coaches and players to follow. This season we have gone further by introducing a behaviour improvement programme to hold clubs to account that repeatedly demonstrate poor behaviour. We want everyone involved in grassroots football to sign up to our new Grassroots Code of Conduct and enjoy playing the game in a safe and positive environment. There is no excuse for abuse of any kind in football and we are determined to stamp this out.”

The FA’s Director of Football Development, James Kendall said: "We are committed to tackling poor behaviours across grassroots football because everyone should be able to enjoy the game in a positive environment. We have been very clear that all forms of unacceptable behaviours and abuse, whether on or off the pitch, will not be tolerated and these new measures will help to ensure that the actions of the minority do not spoil the game for everyone else. We all have a collective responsibility in helping to improve the behaviour and culture in our game and our new Code of Conduct sets this out clearly. Together, we can create a safe and enjoyable environment for all."

To be one of the first to receive the latest grassroots football news from Lincolnshire, and to receive exclusive offers and discounts from Lincolnshire FA partners – click here.