FA Bans Referee Observer for Nine Weeks Over Discriminatory Remarks
The Football Association has suspended referee observer Brian Curson for nine weeks and fined him £200 after finding him guilty of making discriminatory remarks.
Curson, a Pro Ref match observer with more than 40 years’ experience in football, was assessing officials at the League One fixture between Luton Town and Rotherham United at Kenilworth Road on 15 November 2025.
An allegation was made that he made two discriminatory comments in the stadium lounge after the match.
The FA charged him with acting in an improper manner and/or using abusive and/or insulting words.
The remarks were ruled an aggravated breach because they included a reference, express or implied, to ethnic origin, race or nationality.
Curson said he did not recall making the comments. An independent regulatory commission was satisfied on the balance of probabilities that they had been made.
The commission imposed a nine-week suspension from all football and football-related activity, a £200 fine, a mandatory education programme and a warning as to his future conduct.
The FA requested a time-based sanction in line with the nine-to-12-match range typically applied to players for similar offences, taking into account Curson’s experience and role on the day.
By Oyinkansola Shittu.
