In the past few seasons there has been considerable change in the manner in which Match Officials at all levels of the game can report misconduct of players on the field of play.
The Football Association has recognised the technical opportunities available to many referees to use IT whilst not detracting from a system in place for those referees who, for whatever reason, do not use IT as a form of communication.
For the 2008-09 season, referees can report misconduct in the following ways (as an alternative to the traditional misconduct report forms):
Adobe Acrobat Format (print and manually fill-in):
• Multi Caution Match Report Form
• Standard Misconduct Form
Microsoft Excel Format (electronically complete and email to discipline@countyfa.com unless otherwise specified by the County):
• Multi Caution Match Report Form
• Standard Misconduct Form
Please note that only these approved templates may be used by referees and not any personally designed electronic forms.
Misconduct reporting
It is vital that when match officials report misconduct, you submit the forms to the correct association for processing.
Not doing so causes significant delays to the disciplinary process and creates additional work for those involved by having to advise where reports should be sent to.
Therefore, it is essential that when officiating in a match, you are aware of where to send both participating teams' disciplinary reports. If you are in any doubt then please refer to the details that follow, or by contacting the FA Referees or Disciplinary Departments, or your local County Association who will be able to advise you.
The Football Association Disciplinary Department only deal with teams participating in the following leagues and competitions:
• FA Premier League (Barclays) - First Team, Reserves and Academy/Youth teams
• The Football League (Coca-Cola) - First Team, Reserves and Academy/Youth teams
• Conference National (Blue Square Premier) - First Team, Reserves and Academy/Youth teams
• Conference North (Blue Square North) - First team only
• Conference South (Blue Square South) - First team only
• Southern League Premier (British Gas Business) - First team only
• Southern League Div One Midlands (British Gas Business) - First team only
• Southern League Div One South & West (British Gas Business) - First team only
• Northern Premier League Premier (Unibond) - First team only
• Northern Premier League Div One North (Unibond) - First team only
• Northern Premier League Div One South (Unibond) – First team only
• Isthmian League Premier (Ryman) - First team only
• Isthmian League Div One North (Ryman) - First team only
• Isthmian League Div One South (Ryman) - First team only
In addition, The FA Disciplinary Department also deal with disciplinary committed by teams in the leagues listed above who also participate in the following knockout cup competitions:
• The FA Cup (E.ON)
• The Football League Cup (Carling)
• The FA Trophy (Carlsberg)
• Isthmian League Cup
• Southern Football League Cup (Errea)
• Northern Premier League Challenge Cup (Unibond)
• The Football League Trophy (Johnstones Paints)
• Northern Premier League Chairman’s Cup (Unibond)
• County Senior Cup’s
• Northern Premier League Presidents Cup (Unibond)
****The FA Youth Cup (E.ON) – FA Premier League, Football League and Conference National clubs only dealt with by The FA.
****The FA Vase (Carlsberg) – all disciplinary procedures are dealt with by County Associations.
Multi Caution Match Report Form
As many of you will be aware, referees who caution players during a game were in the past required to submit details of these cautions in duplicate on a standard misconduct report form.
A Multi Caution match report form has been adopted for the last two seasons, developed and approved by The Football Association, that permits all cautions from a fixture to be reported on one form.
Referees will only be required to complete one form and distribute just one copy to the appropriate association giving details of the fixture, details of the player cautioned and code for the offence that has been committed, (ie C1 to C7). There is now no longer the requirement to give details of the offence or details of words used in relation to dissent by word or action.
Referees are reminded that in using this form the following guidance needs to be taken into consideration:
1. This form is to be used for cautions only.
2. Players receiving two cautions in a game must be reported on the standard misconduct reporting form.
3. Players sent off or other reports of misconduct need to be reported individually on the standard misconduct report form.
4. A copy of the form needs to be sent to each County that is affected. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the referee to photocopy the form and send to each appropriate association. However, you are required to still include the details of all of the cautions on one form.
5. To assist associations in the administration of the misconduct, please include team details on the form. (i.e. 1st, reserves, U18, U17 etc).
This form is available from two main sources:
1 Any County Football Association
2 TheFA.com
The Microsoft Excel version of the form will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by email (see details on form). The referee must have Microsoft Excel installed in order for this form to work.
The PDF version of the form requires Adobe Acrobat Reader. The reader is a free download from: www.adobe.co.uk (click on the icon on the lower left hand side that says "get Adobe Reader").
Standard Misconduct Report Form Template
Use this form to report:
1. Players receiving two cautions in a game and therefore dismissed from the field of play.
2. Players sent off or other reports of misconduct need to be reported individually on the standard misconduct report form.
An electronic version of the Standard Misconduct report form has been created in Microsoft Excel and in pdf and is available by clicking the links above. This will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by e-mail (see details on form). The referee must have Microsoft Excel installed in order for this form to work.
Again, this will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by e-mail.