12. Aggregate Misconduct (Clubs)

12.1 Associations may, at their option, use a penalty points based system to punish clubs whose misconduct is deemed excessive. If the Association chooses to punish clubs for Aggregate Misconduct they must use a system that conforms to these regulations.

12.2 Penalty points for cautions and dismissals from the Field of Play are listed against the relevant offences in these Regulations.

12.3 These points are effective once the offence:

(a) is reported for cautions or dismissals

(b) has had a hearing for cases having hearings (unless an appeal is requested).

(c) has had an appeal for cases going to appeal.

Penalty points must not be awarded to charges found not proved.

 12.4 Penalty points work on a seasonal basis, with points being included in clubs’ totals for offences committed between the first and last days of the season, on an inclusive basis. Points must not be carried forward from one season to the next.

12.5 Misconduct dealt with by the Football Association must not be included in the penalty points totals.

12.6 Sanctions should be imposed at three stages, each incurring an Administration Charge, currently set at £10.

12.7 The number of points allowed for each stage (the Threshold), must be related to the number of teams that each club possesses.

12.8 Associations may make allowances in the number of teams that a club is deemed to have for Aggregate Misconduct, to reflect clubs whose disciplinary cases are handled by The Football Association. This is to prevent such clubs gaining an unfair advantage.

12.9        Recommended Points Allowances per Club per Season

12.10

12.10 Recommended Fines for Exceeding a Threshold

(a) For exceeding Stage I £25 plus an Administration Fee

(b) For exceeding Stage II £50 plus an Administration Fee

(c) For exceeding Stage III £100 plus an Administration Fee

Associations may vary Fines and Thresholds at their Discretion

12.11 Clubs that significantly exceed Stage III should be subject to further disciplinary action.

12.12 The Disciplinary Commission shall have the power to impose, or recommend as appropriate, any one or more of the following penalties on the Offending Club:

(a) a reprimand and/or final warning as to future conduct;

(b) a further fine;

(c) suspension from all or any specified football activity from a date that the Commission shall order, permanently or for a stated period or number of matches;

(d) expulsion from a competition of the Association;

(e) expulsion from a membership of the Association;

(f) such further or other penalty or order as the Commission considers appropriate.

13. Disciplinary Action On Clubs For Misconduct By Their Players

 Any Club who has six or more individual Players cautioned or Dismissed from the Field of Play in the same match will be automatically fined the sum of £150 for the first occasion during the Season.  For a second / third / fourth etc. occasion in the same Season, the fine on the Club will be £300 / £450 / £600 etc.

14. Assaults On Match Officials

The following Regulations shall apply at all levels of the game (excluding the 6 designated Leagues):

14.1 In addition to assisting a match official who has reported an assault against him, The Football Association or appropriate Association shall without delay investigate the match official’s report and if, after such investigation, the chairman and secretary of the Association or their nominees are satisfied that a prima facie case can be made out against the alleged offender they shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that a charge is preferred and that a Disciplinary Commission meets 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 when he is notified of the charge, until a Disciplinary Commission has heard and adjudicated on the matter.

14.2 There shall be three categories of assaults:

(a) COMMON ASSAULT

(b) ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY HARM

(c) ASSAULT CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY HARM

14.3 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, giving the decision of the Commission together with any reason for variation of the recommended punishments set out in 4 below. (If a match official who has reported a participant for an assault upon his person makes a written request for the decision and punishment awarded such must be made available to him at the earliest opportunity).

14.4 Recommended punishments for a person found guilty of an assault upon a match official are as follows (and cover football at all levels of the game):

(a) (i) Common Assault 182 days suspension plus a £150 fine (ii) Common Assault by way of 1 year suspension plus £150 fine spitting at or on a Match Official

(b) Assault causing or attempting to cause Sine die suspension with no bodily harm review to be considered under a period of 5 years plus £250 fine

(c) Assault causing serious bodily harm Permanent suspension – no review to be considered under a period of 10 years.

15. Assaults By Participants On Other Participants

15.1 When a referee’s report indicates that a Participant has perpetrated an assault on another Participant causing serious bodily harm before, during or after a match, The Football Association or appropriate Affiliated Association may, as in cases of assaults on match officials, without delay investigate the official’s report. If after such investigation, the chairman and secretary of the Association, or their nominees, are satisfied that a prima facie case can be made out against the alleged offender, such steps shall be taken as are necessary to ensure that a charge is preferred and that a Disciplinary Commission meets 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 when he is notified of the charge until a Disciplinary Commission has heard and adjudicated on the matter.

15.2 The recommended punishments for such offences are set out below:

Offender

(a) Player A suspension for a minimum of 140 days plus £150 fine for a first offence but, depending on severity, sine die with no reviewfor five years.

(b) Club official As for (a) above but: (i) If on a player or other official but not a match official; suspension from all football and football activities (ii) If on a Match Official – paragraph 14 above will apply.

 (c) Match official As for Match Officials assaulted by a Player. But a recommendation will be made to the relevant Referees’ Committee that the registration be removed and no request for reinstatement will be allowed until the suspension has been completed or removed.