Players could face 12-match ban for racism with FA's new guidelines

Any player found guilty of discriminatory conduct in English football next season will face a ban ranging from six to 12 matches, the Football Association (FA) announced as part of new sanctioning guidelines.

The governing body can issue suspensions of fewer than six matches if the offending party presents mitigating factors.

The FA said it could also pursue cases even if an incident takes place away from the pitch.

"The fact that an incident of discrimination by an individual took place in private or outside of a standard football setting will now not be a barrier" to issuing sanctions, the FA said.

This past season, Manchester City's Bernardo Silva was banned one game for a discriminatory social media post in reference to teammate Benjamin Mendy.

The FA, however, noted it "does not have jurisdiction over individual spectators unless they are also participants in football."

European football's anti-discrimination body, Fare Network, said the new guidelines do not go far enough in punishing clubs for their fans' transgressions.

"Again the FA has shifted the burden on to individuals - mostly players - who transgress," said Piara Powar, the executive director of Fare.

"Clubs whose fans behave consistently badly will get a minor sanction, despite the fact that these types of incidents are the most damaging. The FA just does not want to punish clubs," Powar added.