In 2009/2010 season six leagues outside of the National League System operated under the Match Based Disciplinary procedures as a pilot, they were North Home Counties, Kershaw, West Riding Amateur, Suburban, Bedfordshire & District Sunday and Herefordshire Saturday Leagues. Last season The FA included the Cambridge & District Sunday League who, along with the above Leagues piloted the system.
The FA Council agreed that all open aged football from the start of 2011/2012 would operate under Match Based Discipline regulations which will improve the consistency of sanctions across the Country and ensure suspensions that are imposed on Players are fair and in proportion to the offence they have been charged with.
What does this mean to you?
There will be no immediate right of appeal on Standard Punishments. Standard charges are you basic sending off offences and will carry an automatic suspension which will come into effect 21 days after the offence. You can lodge a clam of wrongful dismissal but you will need to provide video evidence, which can be in the form of a mobile phone video.
Misconduct charges, charges applied after a standard punishment if necessary will remain the same with a right of appeal but the punishment will be from all football.
If a Player is sent off on a Saturday, the suspension will be from Saturday type football only. This would mean should the Player participate on a Sunday or in a midweek league, they will still be able to play for these teams whilst the Player is serving the ban from Saturday type football. This is the same for a Player who is sent off in Sunday football, they can still play on a Saturday.
Qualifying matches for a suspension can only be for the team whom the Player was playing for at the time they were sent off. If a Club operates a number of teams and is dismissed from one team, that Player is unable to participate until the team he/she were sent off for play the appropriate number of games relevant to the Players suspension.
Suspensions under the match based discipline system commence 21 days from the date of the fixture. If you have not received correspondence relating to a fixture within 10 days you must contact the County Association immediately.
Non-receipt of paperwork is not a valid defence where a charge is issued for playing whilst under suspension.
Qualifying Matches
The following competitions will qualify for a Player to serve the suspension imposed by the County FA:
• FA Competitions (Cup, Trophy, Vase, Women’s Cup and FA Sunday Cup)
• League Matches
• League Cup Matches (subject to being confirmed by the County FA)
• Parent County Cup Matches (subject to being confirmed by the County FA)
You will need to notify the County of the fixtures that will be served, you must also notify us of any change in those fixtures.
If you are Sent Off on a Saturday, the suspension is from Saturday type football only. You will be able to play on Sundays.
If you are Sent Off on a Sunday, the suspension is from Sunday type football only. You will be able to play on Saturdays.
All clubs have been issued with an updated Discipline handbook with additional information on this system and an FAQ page. In addition the County FA staff are always available to answer any queries you may have so please ask if you are unsure.