Controversial manager given six-match touchline ban for comment on women drivers

Dorking Wanderers manager Marc White has been slapped with a six-game touchline ban for comments about female drivers, the club have confirmed. The comments in question were made on a podcast, and come after he missed a significant number of games with touchline bans last season.

The non-league club issued a short comment on social media following the news. "Following (intended fun) comments made on a podcast regarding women drivers, First Team Manager Marc White has received a six-game touchline suspension to be served from the beginning of the league season," it read.

White made the comments when reflecting on what he described as a "12-stadium ban" during the 2024-25 season. "This year, I’ve gone easy, mate," he said.

"Obviously, more women refs now, so you have to pay a bit more respect. Do you know what I mean? You have to pay a bit more respect like help them park. Do you know what I mean?"

White won't be on the touchline for any of the first six games of Dorking's upcoming National League South season. The club finished sixth last term, losing to Boreham Wood in the play-off quarter-finals.

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Long-serving manager White has been in charge at Dorking for more than 1,000 games, helping them climb the non-league pyramid. The club, founded in 1999, rose from the Crawley & District League all the way up to the National League, where they spent two seasons before suffering relegation in 2024.

His tenure hasn't passed without controversy, though. In 2023 he was charged by the FA and accused of "[acting] in an improper and/or threatening manner and/or used abusive and/or insulting words towards match officials," serving a touchline ban as a consequence.

Speaking to the Undr the Cosh podcast that same year (per The Athletic), he said: “The FA are transitioning from traffic wardens to a Gestapo or something. Everything’s about suspensions, bans and fines."

He also launched a foul-mouthed speech after a victory over St Albans City in 2024. "First of all, I f***ing loved giving it to them St Albans fans singing all their f***ing sexually offensive songs like a bunch of d******ds," he said.

"I love f***ing beating people like that and then giving it back. So, to all them boys, they can go and cry tonight around their mummy's house. Good f***ing luck, lads. You got beat, unlucky."

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