Would help if the FA brass set examples:
Cheshire FA boss Simon Gerrard banned for ‘headbutting’ player
An FA boss has been banned from playing for six months – after being found guilty of headbutting an opponent and threatening to break his legs during a match.
Cheshire FA chief executive Simon Gerrard was handed the lengthy suspension after clashing with another player in a five-a-side game.
Despite calls for the newly appointed boss to be sacked he has kept his job.
The M.E.N. understands that decision has left some officials at the FA contemplating their own futures. Gerrard – who also works with the England partially-sighted team – was playing in goal in a Futsal match when the attack happened.
A source said that when an opposition player took the ball past him and was about to score he launched a ‘horrendous’ two-footed tackle.
When the pair got up Gerrard is then said to have headbutted the other player.
After being sent off he is understood to have wandered to a spectators’ gallery before launching a foul-mouthed tirade at the player, telling him he was going to ‘break his ******* legs’.
Gerrard was charged with three offences by the FA.
He pleaded guilty to violent conduct and using foul and abusive language, but denied the charge of headbutting an opponent. But he was found guilty of the final charge at the Manchester hearing.
The case was heard by a four-man FA delegation from London – the same panel which banned referee Phil Morris after he made a remark about concentration camps during a Jewish League game.
Gerrard declined to comment when contacted by the M.E.N. other than to say ‘there are two sides to every story’. But a source, who asked not to be named, said: "Nobody can believe that the Cheshire FA have stood behind him.
"You would think with the Respect campaign (the FA’s drive to improve standards of behaviour) he would have been gone. There are people within the Cheshire FA considering their positions over this."
The Cheshire FA covers leagues in Stockport and Tameside.
Dave Edmunds, chairman of the Cheshire FA, said: "This is something that happened in Simon’s private time playing football and he has been dealt with by the FA and disciplined as any other player would have been.
"Simon has been with us for six years in total and has done some tremendous work for the county.
"He is a tremendous asset to the county and we would prefer to concentrate on the positives."
An FA spokesman said they would be reviewing Gerrard's role with the partially-sighted team.
Cheshire FA boss Simon Gerrard banned for ‘headbutting’ player
An FA boss has been banned from playing for six months – after being found guilty of headbutting an opponent and threatening to break his legs during a match.
Cheshire FA chief executive Simon Gerrard was handed the lengthy suspension after clashing with another player in a five-a-side game.
Despite calls for the newly appointed boss to be sacked he has kept his job.
The M.E.N. understands that decision has left some officials at the FA contemplating their own futures. Gerrard – who also works with the England partially-sighted team – was playing in goal in a Futsal match when the attack happened.
A source said that when an opposition player took the ball past him and was about to score he launched a ‘horrendous’ two-footed tackle.
When the pair got up Gerrard is then said to have headbutted the other player.
After being sent off he is understood to have wandered to a spectators’ gallery before launching a foul-mouthed tirade at the player, telling him he was going to ‘break his ******* legs’.
Gerrard was charged with three offences by the FA.
He pleaded guilty to violent conduct and using foul and abusive language, but denied the charge of headbutting an opponent. But he was found guilty of the final charge at the Manchester hearing.
The case was heard by a four-man FA delegation from London – the same panel which banned referee Phil Morris after he made a remark about concentration camps during a Jewish League game.
Gerrard declined to comment when contacted by the M.E.N. other than to say ‘there are two sides to every story’. But a source, who asked not to be named, said: "Nobody can believe that the Cheshire FA have stood behind him.
"You would think with the Respect campaign (the FA’s drive to improve standards of behaviour) he would have been gone. There are people within the Cheshire FA considering their positions over this."
The Cheshire FA covers leagues in Stockport and Tameside.
Dave Edmunds, chairman of the Cheshire FA, said: "This is something that happened in Simon’s private time playing football and he has been dealt with by the FA and disciplined as any other player would have been.
"Simon has been with us for six years in total and has done some tremendous work for the county.
"He is a tremendous asset to the county and we would prefer to concentrate on the positives."
An FA spokesman said they would be reviewing Gerrard's role with the partially-sighted team.