The FA Rules and Governance website page will help provide a better understanding of the role governance of the game in general. The FA will use this section to provide useful information and resources for Leagues, Clubs, and Players throughout the 2019-20Season.

The FA Discipline Handbook is an online interactive reference guide to aid Leagues, Clubs and Players through the forthcoming season.

You can access the handbook by clicking on the following link:

The FA Discipline Handbook

Football is played under The Laws of Association Football as laid down by the International Football Association Board (IFAB Ltd) of the Federation of International Football Associations. If these laws are broken by those playing the game then there are discipline rules that must be applied by referees and administrators. Football is a very emotive game and people’s passions are aroused. It is therefore necessary for referees to enforce the laws and see they are adhered to. Players and coaches have a duty to see the game is played in the right spirit otherwise they will fall foul of the disciplinary punishments as laid down by The Football Association.

The current administration charge for a single caution is £12. Following this charge the following process must take place:

• This must be paid within 14 days of the date of notification.
• There is no appeal against a caution except in the case of mistaken identity.
• Any cases or alleged cases of mistaken identity must be made to the County Football Association in writing within 72 hours of the match date by the club and the player.
• The matter will then be investigated.
• Initially it is the club's responsibility to pay the fine and complete the caution form, giving full details of the player.
• Players over 16 years of age must then reimburse the club.
• Any other clubs he/she plays for should also be included on the form. It should be signed by both the player and club secretary.

PLEASE NOTE:

A player, club official or a club has the right of appeal against any charge levied. The cost of a personal hearing is £25 or £100 depending upon the level of football. If the charge is subsequently found proved then the appellant would pay the adjusted costs of the hearing as well as losing his personal hearing fee.

Clubs which fail to return acknowledgement forms and monies owed by the due date will be subject to additional fines. That could in turn result in the suspension of the club should the rules not be adhered to.

If you are in any doubt or have any questions regarding personal hearings, contact us at the County Office via discipline@huntsFA.com or Telephone 01480 414422

(Note for he/his - also read she/her)

• If a player is sent off for a standard sending off offence (and receives a one, two or three match suspension) playing for a Saturday team, he/she is only suspended for his Saturday team’s fixtures. This means he can continue to play for his Sunday side. If he/she is sent off playing for his Sunday Side, he/she is only suspended from his/her Sunday Side and can continue to play for his/her Saturday side.
• However, if your player receives a Misconduct Charge, they will be suspended from ALL football. (misconduct charges are levied in addition to the standard sending off offences – i.e. a player is sent off for say: violent conduct – they will receive a standard charge which carries the suspension of 3 matches as above, if the player then abuses the referee, and/or refuses to leave the field of play, or commits any other further offence – they will receive a misconduct charge. The case will go before a commission either as a correspondence hearing or if requested by a personal hearing).
• Any punishment received from a misconduct charge is from ALL football.Please remember most importantly…if you’re sent off…walk off!!
• Introduced in July 2017, following any case that has an automatic suspension (Red Card, 5/10/15 cautions) all suspensions will commence 7 days from the date of the offence. The onus is on the Player and Club to ensure the suspension is served irrespective whether paperwork is received or not. Reminder: - for standard charges (Red Card), the club secretary only has 7 days to return the paperwork to the office.
• Qualifying matches to serve match suspensions are League Matches, FA Competitions, League Cup Matches and the clubs most Senior County Cup.
• Players no longer need to sign the pro-forma for a Standard Charge (i.e. violent conduct, use of offensive and/or insulting and/or abusive language and/or gestures, etc.), as there is no appeal against Standard Charges.
• If a club/player/manager etc has a Misconduct charge raised against them, the personal hearing fee at Steps 5-7 has been reduced from £100 to £50. Clubs outside of the National League System the Personal Hearing fee has been increased from £25 to £30.

• Check the club statement sent to you advising as to your players suspensions. If in doubt, please ask the County Office for clarification!
• Using the Charge acknowledgment form, Inform us of ALL clubs your player/s are registered with.
• Keep us informed of changes to suspensions by simply sending an email to  David.Copson@HuntsFA.com 
• IMPORTANT – when signing a new player – check if he/she is suspended for a number of matches or period of time, or Suspended Sine Die, not just by the Hunts FA but by any other County FA. The simplest method to check this is to go to the SUSPENSION PAGE.

NOTE: - change the search criteria from National Level to Players Name. You can check any player nationwide from here. If you enter their DOB it narrows the search result for you, remember there are hundreds of John Smiths!!