ENGLAND PLAYERS are to be subject to a tough new code of conduct, drawn up by the Football Association against a backdrop of damaging cases involving John Terry and Ashley Cole, which will leave them “under no illusions” about the penalties for misbehaviour off the pitch.
FA chairman David Bernstein believes the new rules, which include separate sections for when players are on England duty or with their clubs, should have been brought in “years ago” but would make it “crystal clear” where they stood.
England’s senior squad were presented with the code on Monday in a presentation after gathering at the FA’s new £105 million (€130 million) national training centre, St George’s Park, in Staffordshire ahead of Friday’s World Cup qualifier against San Marino.
“The England players are representing their country, they’re role models, their behaviour is incredibly important in respect of everything else we’re trying to do,” said Bernstein.
The FA was keen to stress the code, which encompasses rules on discrimination and the use of social media, had been in development since January and there was no direct link with the Terry or Cole cases. The governing body accepts the need to explain better the independence of its disciplinary process – which will remain separate from the code of conduct – and has consulted other bodies, including the Rugby Football Union and the England and Wales Cricket Board.
It is understood the code encompasses three sections: general conduct, applicable whether the player is with England or not; conduct and behaviour when players are with England; and how any breach will be dealt with.
Sanctions are not laid out in the document but will range from fines to bans and will be decided by the Club England management board.
“We’re not going to ban players for life but it will be much clearer to the players, if they offend, what the list of offences potentially are,” said Bernstein. He also said the FA would make it clearer to players how the independent disciplinary process works, conceding there are “lessons to be learned” from the incidents over the past few months. The draft code has been approved by the full FA board and is likely to be in place formally by the time the senior squad next meet, in November ahead of the friendly against Sweden.
Club England managing director Adrian Bevington said rules on using social media had been clarified in the light of Cole’s outburst on Friday when, infuriated by criticisms from an independent regulatory commission over his reliability as a witness in the Terry affair, he described the FA as “a bunch of twats”.
“Social media can be a very powerful vehicle for footballers when used in the right way,” said Bevington. “We’ve explained to the players that that’s absolutely fine by us but please understand that if you’re using Twitter when you’re with the team you should do so in conjunction with the team’s media officers.”
Cole is to be docked two weeks’ wages – some £240,000 (€300,000) – by Chelsea for breaking the club’s code of conduct and has been charged by the FA for the outburst. But he escaped a ban after apologising in person to Bernstein on Monday night.
England manager Roy Hodgson is considering resting Cole for the San Marino game anyway, but admitted relief that the problem had been resolved. “I know how disappointed and saddened Ashley was with the situation. He made a mistake and he’s made it very clear he regrets it.”
Terry is still deliberating over whether to lodge an appeal against the commission’s verdict he was guilty of racially abusing Queens Park Rangers defender Anton Ferdinand. The club and his representatives have until October 18th to make a decision.
Guardian Service
