During the past season many letters, e-mails and comments were received from spectators, club official’s and match assessors with regard to instances of little, or no action being taken by Match Official’s when faced with ‘INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE’, both on the field of play and from occupants of the Technical areas during all levels of Sport Italia Hellenic League Competition matches.

The management board of the competition have acted to protect the integrity of the Competition, and the game of association football, by agreeing to a ZERO TOLERANCE APPROACH to the use of ‘INAPPROPRIATE LANGUAGE’.

Match Official’s who attended the recent In Service training day were instructed that they must implement a ZERO TOLERANCE policy from the opening day of the season 11th August. It must be noted that this is policy whereby the language used is inappropriate to the circumstances and not specifically to the individual the comment is made towards.

• MATCH OFFICIAL’S are instructed to implement LAW 12 of the Law’s of association football in respect of this policy.
• MATCH ASSESSOR’S have been instructed to make appropriate development points to Match Official’s who do not properly comply with the League policy in match situations.
• Club Official’s were advised of the policy at the Annual Pre Season meeting held on 1st August and were advised they have responsibility to:
o Tell their Team Management and Players of the League Policy on this matter.
o Utilise the Match Reporting Procedure were Match Official’s have not properly adhered to the League Instruction.

Brian King
General Manager
On behalf of the Management Board

2nd August 2007