Brian Jones resigns from FA Council over 'Islamophobic' Facebook post
Thursday 14 February 2019 18:06, UK
A senior FA Council member has resigned over a Facebook post that has been criticised for being Islamophobic.
Brian Jones, who has been charged with breaching FA rules, stepped down from the council and the FA's judicial panel last month after one of his staff complained about the post.
He has also temporarily stepped aside from his role as chairman of Sheffield and Hallamshire FA while the governing body investigate the matter.
Jones had been a member of the FA for 10 years, serving on the National Game Board from 2013 to 2016.
Jones was also part of the Independent Regulatory Commission that found Luis Suarez guilty of racially abusing Patrice Evra in 2011.
An FA statement issued to Sky Sports News read: "Brian Jones has been charged with a breach of FA Rule E3.
"It is alleged that comments he shared on social media breached Rule E3[1] as they were abusive and/or insulting and/or improper and/or brought the game into disrepute.
"It is further alleged that the words constituted an 'Aggravated Breach', which is defined in Rule E3[2], as they included reference to ethnic origin and/or colour and/or race.
"Mr Jones has voluntarily stepped down from his role on The FA Council and The FA Judicial Panel."
