Family blast FA after junior footballer, 15, banned for five years over alleged spitting incident

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The mum of a teenage footballer has blasted the Football Association for handing out a five-year ban to her son for allegedly spitting at an official.

Jake Dowling, 15, was sent off for a tackle he made during a game for Tintwistle Athletic against Hill Gate and was subsequently accused of spitting at the referee.

He denied the accusation but was found guilty and slapped with a lengthy ban. The family then lost their appeal leaving Jake devastated at being denied the chance to play his favourite sport while also potentially harming his career ambitions.

The incident that sparked the process came during a game in February. Jake’s mum, Emma, who was at the match, said her son did not spit at the referee and says there is no evidence to show he did so, while the teenager offered an apology to the official at half-time for his verbal abuse during his dismissal. ALSO READ: Manchester United interested in goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen Tintwistle, who he plays for in the East Manchester Junior Football League, have supported him during the process, as have Ashton, who Jake also turns out for.