A pool of ex-players, managers and match officials, who will be appointed to review alleged incidents of ‘successful deception of a match official’, has been confirmed by The FA.
From the start of the 2017-18 season, retrospective disciplinary action can be taken in situations when a match official has been deceived, and as a direct result, the offending player’s team has been:-
• awarded a penalty; and/or
• an opposing player has been sent-off where the act of simulation and/or feigning injury led to a straight red card or caused one of the two cautions that led to the dismissal.
This rule is not intended to regularly review debatable incidents but is to be utilised where there is a clear act of simulation.
If The FA believes that there may be a case to answer, a three-person panel consisting of one ex-player, one ex-manager and one ex-match official will be convened from the pool, subject to any conflicts of interest.
The current pool
Former players/managers
· Nigel Adkins
· Rachel Brown-Finnis
· Terry Butcher
· Lee Dixon
· Alex McLeish
· Danny Murphy
· Chris Powell
· Trevor Sinclair
Former match officials
· Keren Barratt
· Steve Dunn
· Mike Mullarkey
· Alan Wiley
· Eddie Wolstenhome
The process
Following an incident, each of the three appointed panel members will be asked to review the footage independently of the other members. Only in circumstances where the panel members are unanimous will a charge be issued.
Should the charge be admitted, or denied and later found proven by an Independent Regulatory Commission, the player would receive a two-match suspension.
Although attempts to deceive a match official by feigning injury or simulation is a cautionable offence, the fact that the simulation has succeeded in leading to a penalty and/or dismissal justifies a more severe penalty which is also intended to act as a deterrent.
In the event that a charge is admitted or denied and later found proven, the Independent Regulatory Commission shall consider whether or not to rescind an associated caution or dismissal received by an opposing player as a result of the simulation.
