2. Timing

Disciplinary procedures shall commence no later than 90 days, and the outcome determined no later than 180 days from receipt of the report of alleged misconduct, or otherwise be void. If deemed reasonable, any period of delay requested or caused by the Participant will not count towards the 90/180 days. The Association must use due diligence to charge and/or finalise cases within that period of time and must conform with the requirements set out in this Memorandum, subject to the effects of the adoption by the Association of any of the alternative and optional powers set out in paragraph 20.

3. Administrative Procedures – Match Official Reports

An Association may reserve the right not to process a caution if the report is deemed to be invalid for any reason.

4. General

4.1 Without prejudice to the foregoing provisions of this Memorandum, an Association shall have the power to delegate to The Football Association or to another Affiliated Association its powers and duties to investigate and/or adjudicate in cases where it may be advantageous so to do.

4.2 If a referee omits to show the appropriate card when taking action against a player, this does not nullify the caution or sending-off offence. However, the attention of the referee should be drawn to the correct procedure.

4.3 A Participant consents to abide by the Laws of the Game, the Rules and Regulations of The Football Association or an affiliated Association and to reasonable proportionate disciplinary action when playing the game. The issue of a caution is a decision based on a question of fact on the Field of Play upon which the Referee’s decision is final. The recording of the caution and the consequences that follow are both reasonable and proportionate. Cautions, not being the subject of appeal do not breach the Human Rights Act 1998.

4.4 When a player is dealt with by a Disciplinary Commission cases must be dealt with on their merits and a punishment awarded consistent with the overall nature and effect of the offence(s); also the player’s record of misconduct over the current and previous five seasons.

4.5 Associations will impose split suspension periods where matches have to be carried over to the following season.  The last day of the first suspension period shall be the Player’s team’s last competitive match of the season. The suspension will re-commence with that same team’s start of the following season. Competitive matches are defined in paragraph 11.3.

5. Reporting Offences By Match Officials

(a) Caution Offences

Referees must submit to the relevant Association within two days of the match (Sundays not included) a Report stating the offence. Referee reports for all County representative football must be sent to The Football Association. All FA County Youth Cup matches will be dealt with by The Football Association. All other reports will be returned to the relevant County Football association to administer.

(b) Sending Off Offences

Referees and Assistant Referees must submit to the relevant Association within two days of the match (Sundays not included) a Report stating the offence(s) and giving a description of the incident(s). Referee reports for all County representative football must be sent to The Football Association. All FA County Youth Cup matches will be dealt with by The Football Association. All other reports will be returned to the relevant County Football association to administer 

(c) If a Referee omits to show the appropriate card when taking action against a player this does not nullify the caution or the sending off offence.  However, the attention of the Referee should be drawn to the correct procedure. 

6. Caution Offences

A player who has been cautioned in a match, will be notified through his Club by the Association of the offence reported by the Referee.  At the same time will be advised of the total number of cautions recorded during the current season and, any punishment resulting from their accumulation.  An administration fee of £8.00 will be charged for the processing of each report.  For each caution received a player will be subject to one penalty point.

7. Sending Off Offences

A player who has been sent off in a match 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 automatic punishment (see paragraph 11). An administration fee of £8.00 will be charged for the processing of each report.

8. Claims of Mistaken Identity

In the case of a claim of alleged mistaken identity concerning a player cautioned or sent off in a match, the PLAYERS concerned and the CLUB must within three working days of the match submit in writing to the Association particulars upon which the claim is founded, including the right to claim Wrongful Dismissal. If the Chief Executive of the Association, or his nominees, are satisfied that the claim warrants further investigation, a Disciplinary Commission shall be convened and will meet within the 21 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 £100 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.

9. 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 cassette recording/DVD showing the incident, must be submitted by the player concerned and his Club, together with the relevant fee and MUST be received by The Association by the close of business of the third working day following the match (as below*). An indication by fax or e-mail ( discipline@[insert name of county]fa.com e.g discipline@essexfa.com) on the first working day following the game is required to alert the Disciplinary Departments of the Association that a claim is to be submitted.

Saturday or Sunday game by Wednesday

Monday/Thursday

Tuesday/Friday

Wednesday/Monday

Thursday/Tuesday

Friday/Wednesday

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

Once the claim is lodged with the Association and it is confirmed 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.

An accepted claim will be placed before a Disciplinary Commission within the 21 days before an automatic penalty is due to take effect.  The Club, the player and Match Officials will NOT be invited to attend. The Commission will be dealing with the level of punishment only. 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 sending off

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

• (i) The punishment will remain with the fee being retained
•  
• (ii) The punishment will be withdrawn, the fee returned and that paragraph 11.5(e) of the procedure will not be invoked if the player is sent off again following the offence.

The relevant fee is £100 and will be retained if the case is deemed to be unfounded and returned if any alterations are made to the offence or punishment.

10. Non-First Team Matches

A player who has been sent off or is to be the subject of a charge under the provisions of FA Rule E3 will be dealt with by the Association to which the Club is affiliated in accordance with the Disciplinary Procedures relating to Clubs dealt with by the Associations. A Player will have the right of Appeal against the decision reached by the Association, in accordance with the provisions of the Regulations for Football Association Appeals.