Fallon ban for 'sustained incident of abusive language' says BHA after criticism

The decision to suspend Cieren Fallon for two days for swearing at Marco Ghiani has been criticised by trainer Martin Smith, who feels stewards are "drawing attention to things that don't really need it".

However, the BHA has maintained stewards acted over a "sustained incident of abusive language" that went beyond the threshold of what is acceptable in the "heat of an elite sporting environment".

Fallon was riding Happy Craf for Smith and dismounted the 125-1 shot on the way to the start, leading the five-year-old mare to the stalls by foot prior to the Group 3 Whispering Angel Oak Tree Stakes at Glorious Goodwood on Wednesday.

Fallon was annoyed by his fellow rider, who rode Soft Whisper, for passing Happy Craf at speed rather than pulling up approaching the start. "I said, 'What the f*** did you do that for?'" reported Fallon, while Ghiani said the incident was "nothing to be worried about".

The matter was reported to the stewards, however, who interviewed the two riders and the vet during an inquiry and found Fallon to have been guilty of improper conduct.

Cieren Fallon and Marco Ghiani's rides were well beaten in Wednesday's Oak Tree StakesCredit: Edward Whitaker

Smith said: "I, like everyone, found out afterwards that Cieren had been banned for two days and had no idea about him having a bit of a to-do with Marco. It sounds like a storm in a teacup and made no difference to us at the end of the day.

"From what I've heard of it, it sounds like a bit of a to-do about nothing. In my experience those words were exchanged probably every day, especially in jump racing back in the 90s when there was definitely plenty of verbals.

"I think the stewards wanted to be seen to be doing something, but a slap on the wrist would have been enough. They're drawing attention to things that don't really need it.

"I don't think they should punish someone just so they can say they've done their job."

Responding to the incident on Thursday, a BHA spokesman said: "The stewards acted over what was a sustained incident of abusive language. The issue was aggravated by the fact that it took place in an area where racegoers were present, and also led to a complaint being received from a member of staff. Verbal abuse between people in a workplace is not acceptable whether it is in public or private.

“Everyone accepts that, in the heat of an elite sporting environment, temperatures can be raised and there should be an allowance for this. But there also has to be a ceiling as to what is acceptable and what isn’t. When that threshold is crossed then it's right that action be taken.”

There has been greater scrutiny around language used in the sport in the aftermath of the Robbie Dunne and Bryony Frost case around the bullying and harassing of the last-named rider, with Dunne's ban reduced to ten months (from 18) on appeal in March.

It is understood Fallon, who was champion apprentice in 2019 and 2020, is unlikely to appeal against the suspension, but may look to move a day, with the ban slated for August 10 and 11.

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Cieren Fallon banned for swearing at fellow jockey at Goodwood

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