Women’s football manager who sent players naked pics banned | Football | Sport
The Football Association (FA) has imposed a 12-year ban on the former manager of a fourth-tier women’s team after he was found guilty of sending indecent images of himself to players and a staff member.
Ryan Hamilton, during his tenure as the Women’s manager for Sutton Coldfield Town, sent explicit images of his penis to a player and a staff member via social media. He also shared a naked or partially naked photographs of himself with two other players and sent a video of himself engaging in a sexual act to another player.
Despite denying 24 FA charges of improper conduct – all linked to his time at the Birmingham-based club – an independent regulatory commission found him guilty on 23 counts.
Four players and one staff member provided evidence to the FA, which included instances of Hamilton attempting to instigate sexual activity between May 2022 and November 2024.
The written ruling from the FA regulatory commission stated: “Women should be able to participate in football without being subjected to the sort of behaviour Mr Hamilton exhibited towards them.”
It added: “Women’s football is prospering, and for it to continue to flourish, a clear message needs to be sent that the sort of misconduct Mr Hamilton committed will not be tolerated and will be met with the most severe consequences.”
The commission observed that one victim seemed to hold herself accountable, whilst the four players concerned “feared the consequences of complaining and that it would impact on their chances of being selected,” stating: “Worst of all, some of them somehow felt that it might be their fault.”
The commission said it had “no doubt” Hamilton’s conduct would have persisted had one of the players not raised concerns.
Hamilton, who stepped down from his position as Sutton Coldfield Women’s manager in November 2024, attended an interview arranged by the FA where he responded to allegations made by two of the players. However, he abruptly ended that interview after receiving a phone call.
He subsequently failed to re-engage with the FA and did not reschedule his interview. Hamilton was asked to submit material from his phone but failed to comply.
The commission determined he had “no more than bare denials” regarding three of the complainants, noting: “He has shown no introspection, contrition or remorse.
“The closest he has come is to say that he is ‘not proud of’ his behaviour.”
The identities of the complainants were redacted from the commission’s report prior to its publication on Friday. The FA confirmed it had nothing further to add beyond the ruling.
