NEW FA CHIEF DETERMINED TO DO THINGS RIGHT
Last updated : 25 September 2003 By Editor
Mark Palios, the recently appointed Chief Executive of The
FA, has told the FA website that he is determined to make
the disciplinary process at the Association ‘appropriate’
and ‘speedy’:
"The FA's disciplinary process is fundamental to everything
the governing body of the game stands for. I recognised this
from my first day at Soho Square. Events since then have
only strengthened my belief. That is why over recent weeks,
with senior colleagues, I have been assessing how the
process works in practice.
"Of course it has been developed over a lengthy period, and
agreed by all relevant parties. But there is always room for
improvement, and we need to build a new consensus behind any
changes that are made.
"So a review is now underway that aims to ensure the highest
standards of fairness and transparency. It's what clubs,
players and supporters have every right to expect of us.
"The range of punishments for particular types of
unacceptable behaviour need to be appropriate, and be seen
to be appropriate.
"Furthermore, the process must be as speedy as justice
allows, and certainly speedier that it sometimes has been in
the past. We must concentrate on the time it takes to issue
charges as well as to conclude cases.
"People should not forget that The FA deals with a huge
number of disciplinary cases, not all of them high profile.
But it is crucial that everybody involved believes they are
being treated in a consistent and fair manner.
"That is the objective I shall be discussing with an expert
group of representatives of players, managers and referees
as well as the Premier League and the Football League over
the coming weeks."
