The Football Association have released details about Paul Doswell’s latest lengthy ban after his second showdown with Ebbsfleet manager Dennis Kutrieb.

The now former Havant boss was given a 12-match suspension by the FA at the end of February 2023 after a breach of FA rules E3.1 and E3.2.

It’s the second time the pair had clashed after a previous charge against Doswell was found proven in December 2021 following a game in February 2021. Doswell was given a six-match ban at that time and ordered to attend a face-to-face FA education course.

The FA’s Independent Regulatory Commission was chaired by Andrew Mercer with Martin Allen and Andrew Adie completing the three-man panel.

After the National League South game in September 2021, the FA alleged that Doswell approached Kutrieb to speak to him and twice directed the words “German c***” at him, as part of the phrases ‘You’re a f****** silly German c***’ and ‘You will stay your whole life a f****** silly German c***’.

Doswell could not be certain of the exact words that he used but he admitted the likelihood that he had directed the word 'c***' at Kutrieb after the match, as well as calling him a liar. On this basis he admitted the charge under rule 3.1 but denied making reference to Kutrieb’s nationality.

The commission stated there was no direct evidence in the case to confirm exactly what was said during the incident as the video had no relevant audio, the referee had not overhead the incident and three of those who provided witness statements were not in a position to overhear. They also found Billy Clifford’s statement - the player was at Havant at the time of the incident before moving to Ebbsfleet in January 2023 - was unhelpful in this regard “despite his apparent close proximity” to the incident.

The commission had no doubt that Doswell had followed Kutrieb onto the pitch, “apparently reacting to an actual or perceived slight” after Kutrieb refused to shake hands. They state that “it was clear” that Doswell had “leaned in towards” Kutrieb and, in Doswell’s own words, “whispered” something to Kutrieb. They state that Kutrieb made a report to the referee after his exchange with Doswell.

It was down to the commission to assess the likelihood of Doswell using reference to nationality. They took into account the first incident between the pair in February 2021. Indeed, it was claimed by Doswell that Kutrieb and Ebbsfleet chief executive Damian Irvine had “engineered a further incident” to strengthen their case in that other matter as no decision had been taken on the first incident at this time.

However, the commission felt that Doswell’s behaviour after the match in September 2021 pointed to him acting aggressively and he was “somewhat primed for a confrontation”. They were not persuaded by Doswell’s claim that a handshake from Kutrieb would have “settled any issues between the men”. They felt Doswell’s action in pursuing Kutrieb on the pitch post-match and whispering something to him was “menacing and intimidating in nature”.

They felt that Doswell had “clearly retained a great deal of bitterness and anger towards Kutrieb” as a result of the first incident and that the only explanation for Doswell whispering to Kutrieb was that he didn’t want a third party to overhear them.

The commission felt that Doswell “deliberately put himself in a confrontational position”, although they felt neither man came out of the exchange looking good but it was Doswell who “escalated the situation”. The commission added that Kutrieb’s immediate reaction shows he “experienced something troubling”.

They also state that the first incident between the pair show what Doswell “is capable of when he is angry and what subject matter he is prepared to reference (specifically, nationality).” They said “the similarities between the earlier incident and the present matter are hard to ignore”.

It was for these reasons that the commission was comfortably satisfied that Doswell had used the phrase “German c***” in his exchange with Kutrieb in September 2021.

The commission was advised that Doswell had seven previous records of breaching rule E3.1 in the last five years and one of these was a breach of rule E3.2 - the earlier incident he later received a six-match ban for. They stated that “this problematic disciplinary history greatly concerned” the commission and “suggested that the defendant was making no real efforts to change his ways”.

The commission decided to impose a 12-match suspension on Doswell and he was also ordered to undertake an education programme. They felt a stern sanction was justified due to the guidelines they were working under and the defendant’s previous disciplinary record. The commission felt Doswell’s behaviour “reflected very poorly on the game of football and was inconsistent with the principles of good conduct and inclusivity that underpin the game”.

Doswell has since stepped down as Havant manager and taken a director of football role at the club. He has been replaced as boss by Jamie Collins, who was part of his coaching staff.

Doswell told the Havant website at the time: “It’s a decision which we have been looking at for the last six months, and it was going to happen at the end of the season.”

Havant chief executive Stuart Munro added: “We are very pleased that Paul has agreed to stay on as Director of Football, and one of Jamie’s conditions was to ensure Paul was still around the football club to support and help him in his new role.”