DISCIPLINARY PROCEDURES CONCERNING FIELD OFFENCES
in First Team Competitive Matches (FTCM)

As set out in the Schedule hereto for Players associated with Football League Clubs

SEASON 2003/2004

1. REPORTING OF OFFENCES BY MATCH OFFICIALS in Football League, Football League Cup, FA Challenge Cup, LDV Vans Trophy and Play - off Matches*. (FTCM)

(a) Caution Offences

Referees must submit to The Association within 2 days of the match (Sundays not included) a Report stating the offence and giving a description of the incident.

(b) Sending Off Offences

Referees and Assistant Referees must submit to The Association within 2 days of the match (Sundays not included) a Report stating the offence(s) and giving a description of the incident(s).

2. CAUTION OFFENCES

A player who has been cautioned in a FTCM, will be notified through his Club by The Association of the offence reported by the Referee, the total number of cautions recorded against the player under these procedures during the current Season and at the same time, will be advised of any punishment resulting from the accumulation of these cautions. An administration fee of £8.00 will be charged for the processing of each report.

3. SENDING OFF OFFENCES

A player who has been sent off in a FTCM under the provisions of Law 12 will be notified through his Club by The Association of the offence reported by the Referee, and at the same time advised that he will be subject to the agreed standard punishment (see Section 7). An administration fee of £8.00 will be charged for the processing of each report.

4. CLAIMS OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY

In the case of a claim of alleged mistaken identity concerning a player cautioned or sent off in a FTCM, the PLAYERS concerned and the CLUB must within THREE DAYS OF THE MATCH submit in writing to The Football Association particulars upon which the claim is founded, including the right to claim Wrongful Dismissal. If the Chief Executive of The Football Association, or his nominees, are satisfied that the claim warrants further investigation, a Disciplinary Commission shall be convened and will meet within the 14 days before any automatic penalty is due to take effect. If the Members of the appointed Commission are satisfied that mistaken identity has been proved in a case, the record of the offence will be transferred to the appropriate offender, who will be subject to disciplinary action in accordance with the provisions of the current Procedures.

The relevant fee which MUST be included with the evidence is £600 for Division One Clubs, £450 for Division Two Club or £300 for Division Three Clubs, which may be retained if the claim is deemed to be unfounded and be used in full or in part to cover any costs incurred by a Disciplinary Commission. In the event of the fee not covering the amount of costs charged, an additional amount may be charged by the Commission.

5. CLAIMS OF WRONGFUL DISMISSAL.

In the case of a claim of wrongful dismissal for offences with a penalty imposed under the Laws of the Game of an immediate dismissal (excluding Law S6, the use of offensive or insulting or abusive language / gestures), evidence upon which the claim is founded, which must include a video recording showing the incident, must be submitted by the player concerned and his Club, together with the relevant fee and MUST be received by The Football Association by the close of business of the third day {Sundays and Bank Holidays are not included} following the match. (as below). An indication by fax or email on the next working day is required to alert the relevant departments of The Football Association that a claim is to be submitted.
 
Saturday - Wednesday
Sunday - Wednesday
Monday - Thursday
Tuesday - Friday
Wednesday - Saturday
Thursday - Monday
Friday - Tuesday

(If Bank Holidays fall within the period, the appropriate number of extra days will be made available.)

Once the claim is lodged with the Compliance Department of The Football Association they will confirm that the video shows the incident as reported by the Referee / Assistant Referee and the claim has conformed with the criteria. The Club will then be advised whether the claim has been accepted or not.

The video, a copy of the misconduct report and all correspondence from the Club will then be sent to the Video Advisory Panel.

If the Video Advisory Panel is not satisfied that the claim warrants further investigation the punishment will remain and the fee will be retained.

If the Video Advisory Panel is satisfied that the claim warrants further investigation a Disciplinary Commission will be set up, prior to the commencement of the suspension, to investigate the matter on the relevant paper work and video of the incident. The Club, player and Match Officials will not be invited to attend the meeting of the Disciplinary Commission when the matter is discussed.

When a claim is placed before a Disciplinary Commission, they will be dealing only with the level of punishment, the dismissal from the Field of Play will always remain on the record of the Club and the player and be the subject of the administration fee and the appropriate number of penalty points for a first team sending off.

The only decisions available to the Members of the Disciplinary Commission are:-

(i) The punishment will remain with the fee be retained

(ii) The punishment will be withdrawn, the fee returned and that Section 7(f) of the procedure will not be invoked if the player is sent off again following the offence.

The relevant fee for players associated with FA Premier League Clubs is £1,200 and will be retained if the case is deemed to be unfounded and returned if any alterations are made to the offence or punishment.

6. ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES - VALIDATION OF MATCH OFFICIALS

REPORT BY THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION.

In a case where a referee has reported that he has administered a caution to a player and The Association is satisfied that the incident for which the player was cautioned he should have been dismissed the Field of Play, The Association may formulate and send to the Secretary of the player's club and the player a charge of misconduct under relevant FA Rule E1, E2 or E3. Similarly, where a referee has reported that he has dismissed a player from the Field of Play and The Association is satisfied that the player should have only been cautioned for the offence, The Association may substitute and record a caution. In all cases when it is the intention of The Association to prefer an alternative charge or substitute and record a caution, the referee must be notified of the reason for doing so. The Association reserves the right not to process a caution if the report is deemed to be invalid for any reason.

7. PUNISHMENTS - Relating to First Team Competitive Matches.

(a) CAUTIONS ADMINISTERED ON THE FIELD OF PLAY

i) If a player accumulates 5 (five) recorded cautions in FTCM between the opening day of the Playing Season and the last day in February in the same Season, he will be suspended automatically for a period covering: -
One First Team Match

ii) If a player accumulates 5 (five) recorded cautions in FTCM between the opening day of the Playing Season and the last day of the same Season, he will be: -
"Warned as to his Future Conduct"

iii) A player who has already been subject to disciplinary action as a result of recording 5 (five) cautions and then goes on to record a further 5 (five) cautions during the same Season, will be subject to the following punishments: -

iv) If a player accumulates 10 (ten) recorded cautions in FTCM between the opening day of the Playing Season and the second Sunday of April in the same Season, he will be suspended automatically for a period covering: -
Two First Team matches

v) If a player accumulates 10 (ten) recorded cautions in FTCM between the opening day of the Playing Season and the last day of the same Season, he will be: -
"Severely Censured and Warned as to his future Conduct"

vi) If a player accumulates 15 (Fifteen) recorded cautions in FTCM between the opening date of the Playing Season and the last day of the same Season, he will be suspended automatically for a period covering: -
Three First Team matches

vii) A player who has already been subject to disciplinary action as a result of recording 5 (five), 10(ten) and 15 (fifteen) cautions, and who goes on to record 20 (twenty) cautions in FTCM in the same Season, shall be required to attend a meeting of a Disciplinary Commission, within 14 days of the date of the last caution. The Members of a Commission shall have the power to deal with the player in such manner as they deem fit. The same procedure will apply for every further 5(five) cautions recorded against a player.

viii) Any period of suspension arising from the recording of cautions shall commence on the 14th day following the date of his last offence. The suspension will cover Football League, Football League Cup, FA Challenge Cup, LDV Vans Trophy and Play - off matches until such time as his Club's recognised First Team has completed the number of matches appropriate to the punishment in approved Competitions during the period covered by its opening match in The Football League and ending with the final match in which the Club is playing in a domestic Competition organised by The Football Association or The Football League.

ix) Any period of suspension or part thereof which remains outstanding at the end of a Season must be served at the commencement of the next following Season.

(b) PLAYERS SENT OFF UNDER LAW 12 (7)

A player who is dismissed from the Field of Play for receiving a second caution in the same match will be suspended automatically from Football League, Football League Cup, FA Challenge Cup, LDV Vans Trophy and Play - off matches commencing on the 14th day following the match in which he was sent off, until such time as his Club's recognised First Team has completed one (1) match in an approved Competition during the period covered by its opening match in The Football League and ending with the final match in which the Club is playing in a domestic Competition organised by The Football Association or The Football League.

(c) PLAYERS SENT OFF UNDER LAW 12 (4) and (5)

A player who is dismissed from the Field of Play for denying a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by physical means or by handling the ball, will be suspended automatically from Football League, Football League Cup, FA Challenge Cup, LDV Vans Trophy and Play - off matches commencing on the 14th day following the match in which he was sent off, until such time as his Club's recognised First Team has completed one (1) match in an approved Competition during the period covered by its opening match in The Football League and ending with the final match in which the Club is playing in a domestic Competition organised by The Football Association or The Football League.

(d) PLAYERS SENT OFF UNDER LAW 12 (6)

A player who is dismissed from the Field of Play for using offensive or insulting or abusive language/gestures whether he has previously been cautioned in the match or not, will be suspended automatically from Football League, Football League Cup, FA Challenge Cup, LDV Vans Trophy and Play - off matches commencing on the 14th day following the match in which he was sent off, and until such time as his Club's recognised First Team has completed two (2) matches in approved Competitions during the period covered by its opening match in The Football League and ending with the final match in which the Club is playing in a domestic Competition organised by The Football Association or The Football League.

(e) PLAYERS SENT OFF UNDER LAW 12 (1), (2) and (3)

A player who is dismissed from the Field of play for Violent Conduct, Serious Foul Play or spitting at an opponent or any other person whether he has previously been cautioned in the match or not, will be suspended automatically from Football League, Football League Cup, FA Challenge Cup, LDV Vans Trophy and Play - off matches and All Non First Team Matches commencing on the 14th day following the match in which he was sent off and until such time as his Club's recognised Senior Team has completed three (3) matches in approved Competitions during the period covered by its opening match in The Football League and ending with the final match in which the Club is playing in a domestic Competition organised by The Football Association or The Football League.

(f) ADDITIONAL SENDINGS OFF

Players dismissed from the field of play for a second time in the same Season, in addition to the automatic suspension applicable to the offence, will be suspended for one extra match.

A player dismissed for a third time in the same Season will be suspended for an extra two matches, and so on. A Disciplinary Commission when dealing with a Claim of Wrongful Dismissal (Section 5) has the power not to invoke a further one match suspension if it so decides.

(g) OUTSTANDING SUSPENSIONS

Any suspension or part thereof which remains outstanding at the end of a Season resulting from these Disciplinary Procedures, must be served at the commencement of the next following Season within the terms of these Disciplinary Procedures [Section 7 (a) to (f)].

(h) F.A RULES E1 to E3

A charge of misconduct pursuant to Rules E1 to E3 may be brought against a player in relation to an incident, notwithstanding that the same incident has been dealt with pursuant to this Memorandum. A Commission considering a charge under Rules E1 to E3 in such circumstances, shall have regard to any punishment imposed under this Memorandum when considering any punishment under regulation 7.1 of the regulations for Football Association Disciplinary Action.

(i) PAYMENT TO PLAYERS UNDER SUSPENSION

Clubs must not pay a player more than his basic wage during the period of a suspension.

(j) CLUBS IMPOSING FINES

The responsibility for fining players for field offences is left with the Club, who must notify The Football Association, without delay, the details of the fine in each case. Clubs are required to submit a nil return for any offence under the Field Discipline Guide-Lines issued by the Professional Football Negotiating Consultative Committee (PFNCC) for which a player was not fined.

(k) RE-ARRANGED MATCHES

A Commission shall have discretionary power to rule that a match shall not count towards the completion of a suspension if it is satisfied that the game has been arranged by the Club with a view to enabling the player to complete his suspension and thus qualify him to play in a specific match.

(l) COLLECTION OF ADMINISTRATION FEES

It will be the responsibility of the Club Secretary to collect the £8.00 administration fees from the players concerned and forward them to The Football Association when requested so to do.

8. DISCIPLINARY ACTION ON CLUBS FOR MISCONDUCT BY THEIR PLAYERS

(a) Any Club who has 6 or more individual Players cautioned or Dismissed from the Field of Play in the same match will be automatically fined the sum of £5,000 for Division One Clubs, £2,500 for Division Two Clubs and £1,000 for Division Three Clubs for the first occasion during the Season.

For a second / third / fourth etc. occasion in the same Season, the fine on a Club in Division One will be £10,000 / £15,000 / £20,000 etc.

For a second / third / fourth etc. occasion in the same Season, the fine on a Club in Division Two will be

£5,000 / £7,500 / £10,000 etc.

For a second / third / fourth etc. occasion in the same Season, the fine on a Club in Division Three will be

£2,000 / £3,000 / £4,000 etc.

(b) Any Club whose players accumulate a total number of Penalty Points in First Team matches during a Season, and that total is considered to be appreciably above the average number of points in the same League, may be required to appear before a Commission of the Disciplinary Committee and shall be liable to be warned and/or fined up to £50,000 for a Division one Club, £30,000 for a Division two Club or £20,000 for a Division three Club for having permitted its players to violate the Laws of the Game in contravention of FA Rule G.2.1. In addition, the Commission shall be entitled to order the Club to pay the cost of the Hearing to The Association. Any action taken by the Club to discipline its players under Section 7(j) will be taken into consideration by the Commission in its findings.

In so far as this Regulation shall apply, the following Points will be recorded against a Club for First Team offences: -

For all recorded cautions - 4 Points

For Sending off under Law 12 (4)(5) & (7) - 10 Points

For Sending off under Law 12 (1)(2)(3) & (6) - 12 Points

(c) Proceeds of fines imposed under this section of the Disciplinary Procedures shall be disbursed as decided by The Football Association

(d) A Club required to appear before a Disciplinary Commission shall be represented by at least one of its Directors and the Manager.

(e) The Football Association reserves the right to prefer a Charge against a Club at any time during the Season arising from Field Offences committed by players of the Club, all records will be reviewed to the 31st December annually and Clubs may be ordered to attend a commission to discuss a record that is deemed to be poor at that stage of the Season.

9. ASSAULTS ON MATCH OFFICIALS

1. In addition to assisting a Match Official who has reported an assault against him, The Football Association or appropriate Affiliated Association shall without delay investigate the Official's report and if, after such investigation, the Chairman and the Secretary of the Association or their nominees are satisfied that a prima facie case can be made out against the alleged offender shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that a charge is preferred and that a Disciplinary Commission appointed from Senior Members meet to consider the charge within 28 days of the date of the charge letter. The alleged offender shall not participate in any football activity from the date he is notified of the charge, until a Disciplinary Commission has heard and adjudicated on the matter.

2. There shall be three categories of assault: -

(a) COMMON ASSAULTS - for instance, jostling, holding, pushing

(b) ASSAULTS CAUSING BODILY HARM - for instance, more forceful degrees of the above

(c) ASSAULTS CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY HARM - for instance, where serious harm is caused, such as severe bruising or a broken nose

3. All assaults on Match Officials in the above three categories must be reported to The Football Association within 14 days of the completion of a case that has been proved, along with the decision of the Commission.

* Play - off Matches - There will be an alteration to the Procedures for sendings off within the play - offs which will be forwarded to the Clubs participating prior to the Semi-Final 1st Leg.