A youth coach has called for “common sense” after he was fined and suspended for leading his team off the pitch when they were exposed to homophobic abuse. Darren Wildman, the academy manager of Skelmersdale United, withdrew his team during a match in June after one of his players was abused. Wildman said he came to a consultative decision with his team. He was charged by the Liverpool County Football Association with bringing about the abandonment of a match and found guilty of the charge last week, a verdict he is appealing against. The player responsible for the abuse and his coach were also charged and found guilty. Wildman says neither he nor his players received any support from the Liverpool County FA and that notice of his punishment was delivered via a message on the FA’s online “Whole Game System”. “I asked the FA to show common sense and I think they just need to admit they got this wrong,” Wildman said. “The [FA] preach a mantra of zero tolerance and inclusion but what they’re actually saying is that the most important issue is that you must play the game. Well, no actually. They put all these rainbow laces out, rainbow colours behind the badges, but the minute someone stands up to it they actively punish you for doing it.” The FA’s guidelines on reporting discrimination make clear that any action against discriminatory behaviour during a match should be taken by the referee, who has the power to stop or abandon a game. The referee is also expected to note any such behaviour in their report filed after a game “Remember not to react or get involved because you could end up in trouble,” the guidelines say. “Report not react.” The Liverpool County FA was approached for comment. In a statement given to Sky Sports, it said: “Liverpool County FA is committed to tackling abuse and discriminatory behaviour and strongly condemns any actions of this nature. “All reported allegations are investigated in accordance with The FA’s Rules & Regulations as well as the relevant authorities. As part of that process, we are not in a position to comment on individual cases which are ongoing, or subject to appeal.”