Former Football Coach Banned for Inappropriate Conduct

A former women’s football coach, Ryan Hamilton, has been banned from the sport for a period of 12 years due to serious misconduct involving inappropriate sexual behavior towards players and staff.

Hamilton, who previously coached Sutton Coldfield Town Women’s team, exploited social media platforms such as Snapchat and WhatsApp to send graphic images of his genitals and videos of himself engaging in sexual acts. He also made unsolicited sexual propositions to the women, suggesting encounters in changing rooms and other inappropriate settings.

The Football Association (FA) documented these findings following a misconduct hearing held last month. The regulatory commission stated that Hamilton, who denied any wrongdoing, displayed a lack of introspection, remorse, and understanding of the impact of his actions on others.

In October 2024, five women, including four players, reported Hamilton’s behavior to the Birmingham County FA, presenting what was characterized as “credible and compelling evidence” spanning a two-year period. Hamilton left the club in November 2024 after the allegations came to light.

The investigation revealed instances where Hamilton sent explicit messages to a colleague, including photographs and inappropriate comments. One player, referred to as Player A, recounted an incident where Hamilton kissed her in her car after a club event and made numerous sexual remarks during team meetings.

Another player, Player B, described how Hamilton invited her to sit next to him in the changing room, requesting physical closeness, and sent her multiple explicit images. Player C faced similar harassment, receiving unwanted sexual advances and communication. Additionally, Player D presented evidence of Hamilton’s sexual references during training sessions.

The panel learned that Hamilton’s overtly sexual behavior created a hostile environment for the women, who feared potential repercussions if they chose to speak out against him. One participant expressed feeling so intimidated that she contemplated quitting football altogether.

During his interview with the FA, Hamilton abruptly left the meeting and failed to provide substantial responses to the allegations. Jane Bickerstaff KC, chair of the panel, noted that Hamilton had misused his position of trust and authority over the players in a misogynistic and sexually inappropriate manner.

The panel unanimously found 23 out of 24 charges of improper conduct to be proven, concluding that the only suitable sanction was an immediate suspension from all football-related activities.