The proposed benchmark is aimed at conduct involving an express or implied reference to a protected characteristic. The reported scope extends beyond race and religion to include sex, gender, sexual orientation and disability.
A 10-match starting point would signal that serious discriminatory misconduct is treated differently from routine disciplinary offences. It would also give commissions a clearer baseline when assessing cases where the language or intent is disputed.
But the figure would not operate as a fixed penalty. The report says panels could impose suspensions above or below that level after considering aggravating or mitigating circumstances. That discretion matters: context can shape the sanction, even as the proposed benchmark makes the expected response more severe.
A tougher guideline can sharpen the consequences, but its impact will depend on consistent application. Commissions would still need to distinguish between the nature of the words used, the circumstances in which they were said and the seriousness of the breach.
The reported proposal also covers a broad range of protected characteristics, making clarity in future decisions important for players, clubs and supporters. A firm starting point may strengthen the message, but predictable enforcement will determine whether it changes behaviour across the game.
The next step is whether the proposed approach is formally adopted and how commissions apply it in individual cases. The first decisions under any revised framework will show how much weight the 10-match benchmark carries in practice.