Trearddur Bay player banned for five years after elbow strike in 2026 match

A player received a five-year ban for striking an opponent with his elbow during a January 2026 league game.

Incident captured on video The video footage shows the exact moment when a player from Trearddur Bay made contact with an opponent’s face using his elbow. The clip captures the strike clearly, highlighting the severity of the action during the match. The clash occurred in an Ardal North West league fixture between Porthmadog FC and Trearddur Bay on January 17. The video evidence played a key role in the subsequent disciplinary proceedings. ## Legal consequences for the player After the incident, the player involved, Thomas Taylor, faced legal action for his actions. He pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and received a suspended jail sentence of five-and-a-half months. The sentence was deferred for 12 months, and he was also ordered to pay a total fine of £439, which included £200 in compensation to the injured player, Daniel Brookwell. The court proceedings concluded before the football disciplinary process began. ## FAW disciplinary decision Following the court’s ruling, the Football Association of Wales (FAW) held a disciplinary hearing to address the violent conduct charge against Thomas Taylor. The panel reviewed written evidence and determined that the charge was substantiated. As a result, a suspension was imposed starting from January 22, 2026, along with additional financial penalties and cost orders. The FAW issued a formal statement confirming the decision. ## Details of the suspension The FAW announced that Thomas Taylor is subject to a Sine Die suspension, meaning he is barred indefinitely from all football-related activities with no possibility of review for a minimum of five years. The ban applies retroactively from the date of the incident. The governing body made it clear that no reconsideration would be entertained during this period. Taylor retains the right to challenge the ruling through an appeal process. ## Appeal window open Thomas Taylor has until June 12, 2026, to submit an appeal against the FAW’s decision. The governing body has set a deadline for any potential challenges to the suspension and penalties. If no appeal is lodged by this date, the ban will take full effect without modification. The FAW has not commented on the likelihood of an appeal being successful. ## Club response to the ban Following the incident and the subsequent legal and disciplinary outcomes, Trearddur Bay took action regarding Thomas Taylor’s involvement with the club. He was released from his player and coaching roles at the club after the January incident. The club did not issue a public statement regarding the ongoing suspension or its internal decisions. Trearddur Bay’s actions were taken independently of the FAW’s ruling.