THIS ARTICLE IS PART OF A SERIES OF CASES ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED BY THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION AND HIGHLIGHTED BY KENTONLINE IN A BID TO IMPROVE BEHAVIOUR IN OUR GAME

A footballer accused of using homophobic slurs went quiet when he faced an FA charge - but was hit with an eight-game ban.

Jack Carthy was playing for Southern Counties East side Stansfeld in a match against Fisher in October when comments were said to have been heard by the officials.

Both the referee and his assistant submitted evidence to the FA following the Kent Senior Trophy match after hearing the word “faggot” used during a foul-mouthed argument between opposing players.

Fisher’s own players declined to comment and there was no response to the charges by the player, who had no previous disciplinary issues on his record.

The Kent FA had charged Mr Carthy with improper conduct (including foul and abusive language) with an aggravated breach as it included a reference to sexual orientation.

The deadline for responding to the charge came and went twice and the FA said Mr Carthy didn’t reply or enter a plea.

A member of the National Serious Case Panel adjudicated on the matter in late November and a summary of the evidence was produced by the FA in their report of the incident.

In it, a statement from the referee described homophobic language being used and claimed that when approaching a “situation” he heard the player say: “F*** off you faggot and you f****** faggot” whilst arguing with the Fisher defenders.

Mr Carthy was sent off for the use of offensive insulting or abusive language after becoming confrontational. The referee added that the player responded to the dismissal by saying: “All about you ain't it.”

An assistant referee backed up the claims and said he heard the comment “faggot”.

Kent FA contacted Fisher for witnesses or if anyone had anything relevant to add. The report said they “declined saying the assistant had heard it and wished to leave it to him.”

The report said that the evidence supplied by the referee and his assistant was wholly credible although they were not directly corroborated by an official from Fisher who was at the game.

The standard of proof in the case is the civil standard of the balance of probability. The eight-game ban was in addition to the two-game suspension for the red card and the player was also ordered to complete an online education programme. He had the right to appeal the decision.