Marc White gives his response to the FA giving him a six-game ban for a comment he made on the Under the Cosh podcast about women.
The Dorking owner and manager is said to have specifically referenced women referees and drivers in a derogatory manner.
The Football Association charged him in May for an “aggravated breach” due to the gender-based insult.
The ban will apply to the first six matches of Dorking’s National League South season. He has a history of controversial behaviour, including bans from 12 stadiums. Dorking finished sixth in the league last season but lost in the playoffs.
Marc White said while on the podcast: “Fantastic record last year. I think 12-stadium ban it was in total, which beat my previous best.
“This year, I’ve gone easy, mate. Obviously, more women refs now. So you have to pay a bit more respect. Do you know what I mean? You have to pay a bit more respect like help them park. Do you know what I mean?.But, yeah, it’s I’m getting a bit better.”
Dorking’s Marc White receives six-game touchline suspension for comment he made on podcast
Interviewer: “Learned at the weekend that you’re gonna miss the first six games of the season. What are your reflections on that, and how do you feel about missing those games?”
Marc White: “Yeah. I mean, it’s really poor, in respect of a six game ban, for that misdemeanour. I mean, look, it’s, I can only tell you what I told the FA really which is, also I apologise if, that comment crossed the FA’s guidelines but, it doesn’t cross many guidelines in life.
“I was listening to talkSPORT only two days before that when Alan Brazil spoke about, how in F1, it was safer for women because they didn’t have to reverse. That’s what he said. And they were all laughing and joking, Ofcom monitored and whatnot. And, you know, these are these are cliches, that have been used for donkey’s years, and…
“The FA have their own guidelines around that and I respect that and and obviously genuinely if anyone if there is one person, offended by, clearly what was a joke clearly then, obviously I would apologise for that but let’s face it, let’s be honest, we know that, there would be wholesale, absolutely no one in a million years remotely would have took that in any other way than the joke that it was intended to be. So I’m not a sexist obviously. And, we got a six game ban.
“Listen, the the FA can only work within the guidelines that they’ve got. Right? So, I respect their processes and and they they handled it fairly. The minimum they could give me was a six day ban.
“I mean, some of the things that have gone before the FA, I mean, literally racism on another level. Violence, you name it, get gets two three is really famous cases, two three game bans but again, I think the if if I’m honest, I think the the FA recognised that this this charge was stuck between six and twelve games. They gave me the bare minimum. I appreciate that.
“I think my personal opinion as I told them is that, you know, the FA should stick to football. They should stick on, to improving the game. And, and whilst I do value the work they do, for inclusion because that is genuinely really important in the game.
“Equally, it’s like you need to be careful how far you take it because, you you know, like I said if someone says well, if a referee, a lady official says oh, blimey Marc my what’s that man flu when I when I sneeze, what they gonna do? Ban her for six games? I mean, you know, it’s madness.
“I think the FA need to sort of tread carefully and respect of, you know, what they entertain in football. They’re a football body, they’re for the good of football. They need to work on bigger things but, no.
“They’ve got to know where those lines are drawn and, disappointing outcome. Disappointing outcome really for me, for the club, for the fans.
“What I am gonna do now, I’ve decided I’m now, obviously I’ve done a really successful referees advisory service for two seasons. Been very popular already. Phone doesn’t stop ringing, emails, we do lots of talks now to referee association who want advice.
“And now I’m gonna do, offer FOC, car valet service, Meadowbank for men and women. For men and women, I wanna show everybody what a good guy I am and I’m probably just a funny fucker and I’m probably a really good person.
“And, so we have a do I wanna get a t shirt genuinely and anyone coming to Meadowbank who wants me to park their car, men, women, whoever, I’m gonna park their car for them, and provide a service free of charge. So we’re gonna try and get good from bad and offer more here at Meadowbank, a home of football.”
Interviewer: “Right. Well, I’m looking forward to tomorrow morning when I arrive at work adding you my keys.”
Marc: “I’m not driving your shit car.”
Dorking’s Marc White receives six-game touchline suspension for comment he made on podcast
