FAW charges New Saints chairman over AI-generated social media post

The Football Association of Wales has formally charged The New Saints chairman Mike Harris with multiple disciplinary offences. The charges stem directly from a post he published on the social media platform X on 21 July, which has since been deleted by the user.

According to the governing body, the post appeared to feature an AI-generated video of topless women. The FAW accuses Harris of publishing offensive, insulting, and derogatory content that brought Welsh football into disrepute.

The material is further alleged to have offended the dignity of individuals or groups. The FAW characterizes the content as contemptuous, discriminatory, or denigratory in nature.

Harris now has seven business days to formally respond to the charges brought against him. The outcome of this regulatory process will determine the specific sanctions imposed on the chairman of the reigning Cymru Premier champions.

This is not the first time the club owner has faced disciplinary action from the national governing body. In 2019, an FAW panel punished Harris for a separate discriminatory and offensive social media post.

That earlier incident involved an online exchange with Gary Dewhurst, the former owner of Connah's Quay Nomads. The panel imposed a fine alongside a suspended 10-game ban at that time.

The case highlights ongoing challenges for national football associations in regulating the public conduct of club executives and owners. As social media platforms amplify the immediate reach of personal statements, governing bodies face increasing pressure to enforce strict dignity and disrepute clauses.

For Welsh football, the resolution of this case will serve as a test of the FAW's willingness to apply consistent disciplinary standards to prominent figures. Repeated offences by club leadership often prompt calls for stricter governance frameworks across the domestic game.