Marco Silva v The Football Association

Nick De Marco KC acted for Marco Silva, Head Coach of Fulham Football Club, in an appeal against a decision of an FA Regulatory Commission imposing a one-match touchline ban and fine on Mr Silva for a breach of FA Rule E3.1 in respect of media comments he made about a match official. The Appeal Board allowed the appeal in part, agreeing to suspend the touchline ban to only come into operation upon a repeat breach by Mr Silva occurring before the end of the 2026/27 season.

The Appeal Board’s reasons discuss the weighing up of aggravating and mitigating factors in cases of this type and their relevance to the discretion to suspend a sanction. They are available here.