David Phillips QC chairs FA Regulatory Commission biting case against Jefferson Lerma (AFC Bournemouth)

David Phillips QC has chaired the FA Regulatory Commission with Lawrence Selby and Faye White that heard the biting case against Jefferson Lerma of AFC Bournemouth.  The allegation was that Mr Lerma had bitten an opposing player during AFC Bournemouth’s match against Sheffield Wednesday FC on 3 November 2020.  The Commission found the breach of FA Rule E3 to have been proved.  Mr Lerma was suspended for 6 matches and fined £40,000.  In the Written Reasons (Lerma suspended (thefa.com)) the Commission reiterated that although this was an unpremeditated spontaneous incident all biting incidents are significant in themselves.