![Pinterest](https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://uknews.evprotec.com/hawa-cissoko-gets-longest-wsl-ban-after-striking-opponent/&media=https://uknews.evprotec.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/TELEMMGLPICT000312857681_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqeawYjNG9i94uIDjxO1F-gq1UDbDdk-JPjedL466dDsg.jpeg&description=Ruesha Littlejohn was banned for six games in 2012 over a social media post that referenced sexual orientation, but no other punishments for a player in the competition's 11-year history have been longer than Cissoko's. In the second tier, the Women's Championship, Sheffield United forward Sophie Jones was banned for five games for racially abusing then-Tottenham player Renee Hector in 2019. In the following year, new guidelines came into place introducing more lengthy bans for six to 12 matches for discriminatory conduct. Incidents of violent conduct have been extremely rare in the WSL. The 25-year-old, who accepted a charge of violent conduct but denied a second charge of improper conduct for which the panel found her guilty, was also fined £200. Meanwhile, both Villa and West Ham have been fined £1,000 for failing to control their players and/or staff, but West Ham manager Paul Konchesky and Villa's operations assistant Jack Hopkins both escaped bans for their parts in the touchline melee. Both men were sent down the tunnel. Konchesky and Hopkins have been fined £325 and £250 respectively. Konchesky had accepted an improper conduct charge, while Hopkins denied the charge against him but the panel found him guilty. Speaking immediately after the match, Konchesky had said: 'I was sent down the tunnel. Is it harsh? Probably, because I'm sticking up for my player who is getting stuff said to her. I'm looking after my player, so whatever the consequences are, I'll take.' Later in October, West Ham informed the police of several "hateful and disgusting" racist messages sent to Cissoko, after she was sent abuse on social media following the incident.){kind=link}
Cissoko’s three-match suspension for a red card after striking Sarah Mayling in the face was upgraded to five days by an FA panel
West Ham United’s Hawa Cissoko has been handed an unprecedented five-match suspension for striking Aston Villa’s Sarah Mayling in the face.
The ban represents the longest-ever in the WSL for an on-pitch incident after a Football Association panel found Cissoko guilty of both violent and improper conduct. She had received a red card in the game, which carried an automatic three-game ban, which was upgraded by a panel on Wednesday.
The improper conduct charge related to a melee that ensued in the technical area as she was leaving the field of play.
The longest-ever suspension in the history over the WSL – which was founded in 2011 – was handed to former Birmingham City and Villa coach Marcus Bignot last season, when he was given a seven-match ban over a homophobic slur aimed at a member of Tottenham Hotspur’s coaching staff.