Preston North End’s Darnell Fisher charged by FA after grabbing the genitals of Sheffield Wednesday’s Callum Paterson

The Preston North End defender appeared to grab Paterson’s groin on more than one occasions during their 1-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday, and it was always expected that the FA would be looking into it.

Now the FA Spokesperson Twitter account has said, “Preston North End FC’s Darnell Fisher has been charged following an EFL Championship fixture against Sheffield Wednesday FC on Saturday [21/11/20].

“It is alleged that an incident during the 62nd minute of the fixture, which was not seen by the match officials at the time but caught on camera, constitutes a breach of FA Rule E3.

“The defender has until tomorrow [24/11/20] to provide a response to the charge.”

As per the FA’s rules, Fisher’s breach falls under ‘misconduct’ and more specifically ‘general behaviour’.

The rules state as follows:

E3.1- A Participant shall at all times act in the best interests of the game and shall not act in any manner which is improper or brings the game into disrepute or use any one, or a combination of, violent conduct, serious foul play, threatening, abusive, indecent or insulting words or behaviour.

E3.2 - A breach of Rule E3.1 is an “Aggravated Breach” where it includes a reference, whether express or implied, to any one or more of the following :- ethnic origin, colour, race, nationality, religion or belief, gender, gender reassignment, sexual orientation or disability.

E3.3 - Where an Aggravated Breach of Rule E3.1 is committed in youth football by a Player aged under 12, no disciplinary charge will be brought. In such cases, the Player will be subject to an education programme, the details of which will be provided to the Player by The Association.

E3.4 - Where two or more Participants from a Club commit any Aggravated Breach of Rule E3.1 in any twelve month period, regardless of whether any such breach falls within sub-paragraph E3.4, the Club itself will be liable to a sanction imposed by a Regulatory Commission.

English rugby union international, Joe Marler, was given a 10-week ban for a similar incident involving Welshman, Alun Wyn Jones.

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