Face sanction (11)
I believe the answer is:
countenance
This clue is a double definition.
'face' is the first definition.
(countenance is a kind of face)
'sanction' is the second definition.
('countenance' can be a synonym of 'sanction')
(Other definitions for countenance that I've seen before include "brook" , "appearance" , "Approve of - human face" , "Visage; accept as possible" , "A person's face; admit as possible" .)