A coach of an under-9 football team has admitted using aggravated language towards one of his own players.

The Kent FA issued a misconduct charge to MPE Football Club's Carl Linnell after he was accused of using a term which related to an individual's sexual orientation "at volume" during a match in the Maidstone Invicta Primary League.

A six-match ban was imposed on Mr Linnell - the minimum sanction for the offence - and the chair in the misconduct case Lydia Banerjee admitted she would have given a suspended sentence had she been able to, having considered the mitigating and aggravating factors.

The chair of proceedings, sitting alone, noted the aggravating factors in that Mr Linnell used a term which related to an individual's sexual orientation, said at volume to a player for whom Mr Linnell was responsible as the coach.

His position as coach/manager meant he is expected to be setting an example.

In mitigation, Mr Linnell accepted his wrongdoing immediately and apologised at the time. He admitted the charges promptly and a written record of the case states that there is genuine remorse.

He had no previous history of misconduct and it is recorded that he has satisfied the club that he has learned from the incident and that it will not be repeated.

The chair recognised those factors and and commented: "Were I able to operate a suspended sentence then this would be an exceptional case in which I would do so despite the aggravating factors.

"However, that option is not open to me. I recognise the seriousness of the conduct but I also recognise the weight of the mitigating factors. I therefore impose the minimum sanction of six matches."

Along with the ban, Mr Linnell must attend an online FA educational course and was also warned as to his future conduct. The decision may be appealed.

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