IFA Disciplinary Code
Season 2008/09
The IFA Disciplinary Code is operating within
the guidelines of the FIFA Disciplinary Code.
Disciplinary Committee
| Chairman: |
David J Martin (IFA Football
Committee) |
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| Vice Chairman: |
Robert Haworth (IFA Junior Committee) |
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| Members: |
John McCrossan (IFA Football Committee) |
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John Hamilton (Co. Antrim Football Association) |
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Sammy McFrederick (Fermanagh & Western
Football Association) |
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Eddie Pepper (Mid Ulster Football Association) |
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Raymond Loughrey (North West Football Association) |
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Hugh McCartan (IFAP Management Committee) |
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John Brown (IFAP Management Committee) |
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Bob Fenton (IFA Intermediate Committee) |
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Tom Stark (IFA Intermediate Committee) |
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Conrad Kirkwood (IFA Junior Committee) |
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| Secretary: |
Richard Currie
Irish Football Association
Benmore House
343-353 Lisburn Road
Belfast
BT9 7EP
Tel: 028 90669559
Fax: 028 90683925
Email: rcurrie@irishfa.com |
Article 1: Adoption and Enforcement
a. The IFA Disciplinary Committee (the Committee) adopted this code
on 24 June 2008.
b. This code comes into force on 1 August 2008 and applies to all football
under the jurisdiction of the IFA.
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Article 2: Definitions
a. Player – A person who’s name appears
on the match card for the relevant match.
b. Official – A person, with the exception of players (See Article
2a) who is connected to a football club.
c. Match Official – The referee, assistant referees, 4th Official
or any other person appointed by the IFA, Divisional Association or
League in connection with a match.
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Article 3: Gender and number
Terms within the IFA Disciplinary Code referring to the players, officials
or match officials are applicable to both genders. Any term in the
singular applies to the plural and vice-versa.
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Article 4: Culpability
Unless otherwise specified, infringements are punishable regardless
of whether they have been committed deliberately or negligently.
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Article 5: Acts amounting to attempt
d. Acts amounting to attempt are also punishable.
e. In the case of acts amounting to attempt, the Committee may reduce
the sanction envisaged for the actual infringement accordingly. It
will determine
the extent of the mitigation as it sees fit.
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Article 6: Failure to Reply to Correspondence
Any failure to reply to the IFA’s correspondence
will render the player/official and his club liable to censure, fine
or suspension,
or
a combination of such penalties as the Committee deem fit to impose.
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Article 7: Fines
a. The Committee reserves the right to impose a fine on any club in
any case it deals with.
b. Failure by a club to pay a fine within 14 days from the date of
the letter imposing the fine may result in the club being reported
to the Committee.
c. The Committee may take any action thought necessary against a club
which fails to remit a fine within the stipulated time frame. This
may include
the suspension of a club from all affiliated football.
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Article 8: Administration of Punishments
a. Each disciplinary report, whether a caution or
dismissal, shall incur an administration fee of £5.
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b. The IFA will charge clubs periodically throughout the playing season
for their accrued administration fees.
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Article 9: Cautions
a. A caution is a warning from the referee to a player during a match
to sanction minor infringements (See Law 12 of the Laws of the Game).
b. A player who receives 2 cautions during the same match will incur
a dismissal and, consequently, an automatic suspension from the next
match.
The 2 cautions that incurred the dismissal will not be included in
any total as outlined in Articles 9c, 9d, 9e or 9f of the IFA Disciplinary
Code.
c. A player who accumulates 5 cautions in the same playing season will
be suspended for 1 match.
d. A player who accumulates 10 cautions in the same playing season
will be suspended for 3 matches.
e. A player who accumulates 15 cautions in the same playing season
will be suspended for 5 matches.
f. A player who accumulates 20 cautions in the same playing season
will be dealt with by the Committee in a manner deemed appropriate.
The Committee
will deal with in the event of every further 5 cautions the player
receives.
g. A player who is cautioned after the final whistle and before he
leaves the field of play will be dealt with as a field offence. (See
Article 9a,
9b, 9c, 9d, 9e, 9f, 9h and 9i in the IFA Disciplinary Code)
h. A player who warrants a suspension for accumulation of cautions
will be informed of the details of their suspension.
i. Cautions received during one season are cancelled at the conclusion
of that season and are not carried over to the next season.
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Article 10: Dismissals
a. A dismissal is the order given by the referee
to someone to leave the field of play and its surroundings, including
the technical area
and the
substitute’s bench.
b. A player who is dismissed from the field of play for any offence
will be automatically suspended with immediate effect for 1 match even
if he
was dismissed in a match that is later abandoned.
c. A player who is dismissed from the field of play for any offence
(other than for receiving a 2nd caution) having previously received
a caution
in the same match will have the caution upheld.
d. A player who is dismissed from the field of play for using offensive,
insulting or abusive language and/or gestures will be suspended for
an additional 1 match.
e. A player who is dismissed from the field of play for serious foul
play or for violent conduct will be suspended for an additional 2 matches.
f. A player who is dismissed from the field of play for head-butting
or attempting to head-butt an opponent or any other person other than
a match
official or for spitting at an opponent or any other person other than
a match official will be suspended for an additional 6 matches.
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g. A player who is dismissed from the field of play after the final
whistle and before he leaves the field of play will be dealt with as
a field offence.
(See Article 10c, 10d, 10e and 10f in the IFA Disciplinary Code)
h. A player who is dismissed for an offence which warrants an additional
suspension as outlined in Articles 10d, 10e, 10f or 10g in the IFA
Disciplinary Code will be informed of the details of their additional
suspension.
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Article 11: Suspension
a. All suspensions must be served with the team at which the player/official
received the suspension and must be served consecutively with any other
suspensions that may have been issued. Any automatic suspension must
be served prior to any other notified suspension. Special dispensation
will
be given to a player/official if his club folds during the serving
of his suspension.
b. Suspensions shall cover all domestic league and cup matches until
such time as the team at which the player/official received the suspension
has
completed the required number of matches to enable the suspension to
be served.
c. A player who receives cautions for more than 1 team within his club
(i.e. 1st team, 2nd team, youth team, etc.) will have his cautions
amalgamated and must serve any suspension he may receive from the accumulation
of cautions
with the more senior team.
d. Any period of suspension arising from the accumulation of cautions,
additional suspensions in respect of a dismissal or the implementation
of an automatic Disciplinary Committee sanction (where an appeal to
the Disciplinary Committee has not been submitted) will commence on
the Monday
after the 14th day following the date of the match when the misconduct
occurred. In each instance the player will be advised of the details
of the suspension.
e. Suspensions imposed by the Committee following a personal hearing
or an appeal will be imposed from the Monday after the date of the
meeting.
f. During a suspension, a player/official is not permitted to enter
the dressing room area, the player’s tunnel, the technical area, the
substitute’s bench, the area immediately surrounding the field
of play, the playing surface or any area as specified by the Committee
at
any match played under the jurisdiction of the Association until the
expiry of the suspension. The terms of the suspension apply at any
time on the
day of a match. In serious cases a stadium ban may be imposed.
g. A player who is not eligible to participate in a particular match
may not use that match to serve the suspension or part thereof.
h. No formal notices will be issued for any automatic 1 match suspension
in respect of a dismissal.
i. Any period of suspension or part thereof which remains outstanding
at the end of the playing season must be served at the commencement
of the
next playing season.
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Article 12: Misconduct by players (outside Law 12 of the Laws of the
Game)
a. A player who is reported for misconduct which is not described in
Law 12 of the Laws of the Game will be automatically sanctioned as
follows:
• 1st offence 2 match suspension and a fine of £75
• 2nd offence 4 match suspension and a fine of £100
• 3rd offence 6 match suspension and a fine of £125
• 4th & subsequent offence Committee decision
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b. A copy of the report will be issued to the players’ club.
c. If part of the report relates to cautions or dismissals, that part will
be dealt with in accordance with Article 9 and 10 in the IFA Disciplinary
Code.
d. The player will be given the opportunity to accept the sanction
or to lodge an ‘Appeal to the Disciplinary Committee’ and
therefore attend a personal hearing.
e. In the event that the player does not lodge an ‘Appeal to the
Disciplinary Committee’ it will be assumed that he has accepted
the automatic sanction.
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Article 13: Misconduct by officials
a. An official who is reported for misconduct will be automatically
sanctioned as follows:
• 1st offence 4 match suspension and a fine of £75
• 2nd offence 8 match suspension and a fine of £100
• 3rd offence 12 match suspension and a fine of £125
• 4th & subsequent offence Committee decision
f. A copy of the report will be issued to the officials’ club.
g. The official will be given the opportunity to accept the sanction
or to lodge an ‘Appeal to the Disciplinary Committee’ and
therefore attend a personal hearing.
h. In the event that the official does not lodge an ‘Appeal to the
Disciplinary Committee’ it will be assumed that he has accepted
the automatic sanction.
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Article 14: Excessive Misconduct
a. The Committee may decide a case is worthy of direct consideration
by the Committee beyond the application of the automatic suspension.
b. In such cases, the automatic suspension will be applied and the
player/official will be advised that the case is also being referred
to the Committee where
he will be required to make a personal appearance before the Committee.
c. The Committee reserves the right to increase the automatic suspension
if it is considered the player/official’s misconduct is of a
sufficiently serious nature to warrant a more severe sanction.
d. All cases resulting in the necessity for a personal hearing will
be dealt with as directed in Articles 27 and 28 of the IFA Disciplinary
Code.
e. In all cases of misconduct against match officials the Committee
will take the appropriate action in accordance with the FIFA Disciplinary
Code.
If found guilty of misconduct against match officials a player/official
will be sanctioned as follows:
• At least 6 matches for unsporting conduct towards a match official
• At least 8 months for assaulting a match official.
• At least 12 months for spitting at a match official.
• A fine may also be imposed in all cases.
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Article 15: Unidentified aggressors
If, in the case of violence, it is not possible to identify the perpetrator(s),
the Committee may sanction the club to which the aggressors are deemed
to belong.
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Article 16: Inciting hatred and violence
a. A player or official who publicly incites others to hatred or violence
will be sanctioned with a suspension for no less than twelve months
and with a minimum fine of £250.
b. In serious cases, in particular when the infringement is committed
using the mass media (such as the press, radio or television) or if
it takes
place on a match day in or around a stadium, the minimum fine will
be £1000.
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Article 17: Provoking the general public
A player or official who provokes the general
public during a match will be suspended for two matches and sanctioned
with a minimum fine
of £250.
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Article 18: Ineligibility through suspension
Any player/official who participates in a match
despite being suspended will be suspended for a further 10 matches
and the club for which he
is participating will be fined £150.
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Article 19: Abandonment
If a team is found to have caused the abandonment
of a match it will be sanctioned with a minimum fine of £250.
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Article 20: Racism
a. A player/official who publicly disparages,
discriminates against or denigrates someone in a defamatory manner
on account of race, colour,
language, religion or ethnic origin, or perpetrates any other racist
and/or contemptuous
act, will be subject to match suspension for at least 5 matches at
every
level. Furthermore, a stadium ban and a fine of at least £750 will
be imposed on the perpetrator. If the perpetrator is an official, the fine
will be at least £1250.
b. If spectators display banners bearing racist slogans, or are guilty
of any other racist and/or contemptuous behaviour at a match, the appropriate
Committee will impose a sanction of at least £1250 on the club
that the spectators concerned support and force it to play its next
official match without spectators. If the spectators cannot be identified
as supporters
of one or the other association or club, the host association or club
will
be sanctioned accordingly.
c. Any spectator who is guilty of any of the offences specified under
par. a. and/or b. of this article will be banned from entering any
stadium for
at least two years.
d. If any player, official or spectator perpetrates any kind of racist
or contemptuous act as described by par. a. and/or b. of this article,
3 points will automatically be deducted from the team concerned, if
identifiable, after the first offence. In the case of a second offence,
6 points will
automatically be deducted, and for a further offence, the team will
be relegated. In the case of matches without points, the team concerned,
if
identifiable, will be disqualified.
e. Sanctions imposed on the basis of this article may be reduced or
even disregarded if the player, team, club or association concerned
can prove
that it was not or was only minimally responsible for the offences
in question or if other major reasons justify it, particularly if the
offences were
provoked intentionally to cause a player, team, club or association
to be sanctioned in accordance with this article. The procedure for
assessing
mitigating circumstances shall be governed by this code.
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Article 21: Threats
A player/official who intimidates a match official
with serious threats will be suspended for at least 3 matches and
his club will be fined
at least £150.
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Article 22: Coercion
A player/official who uses violence or threats
to pressurise a match official into taking certain action or to hinder
him in any other way
from acting
freely will be suspended for at least 3 matches and his club will be
fined at least £150.
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Article 23: Liability for spectator conduct
a. The home club is liable for any improper conduct among spectators,
regardless of the question of culpable conduct or culpable oversight.
Further sanctions
may be imposed in the case of serious disturbances.
b. The visiting club is liable for improper conduct among its own group
of spectators, regardless of the question of culpable conduct or culpable
oversight. Further sanctions may be imposed in the case of serious
disturbances. Spectators occupying the away sector of a stadium are
regarded as the
visiting club’s supporters, unless proven to the contrary.
c. Improper conduct includes violence towards persons or objects, letting
off incendiary devices, throwing missiles, displaying insulting slogans
in any form, uttering insulting sounds, or invading the pitch.
d. The liability described in par. a. and b. also includes matches
played on neutral ground, especially during final competitions.
e. Minimum sanctions in relation to Article 23 are:
• 1st Offence Warning and £250 fine.
• 2nd Offence Further Warning and £500 fine.
• 3rd Offence Severe Warning and £750 fine.
f. In the event that any serious disturbances occur the club may be sanctioned
with a £1000 fine and possible stadium sanctions. Possible stadium
sanctions include playing a match without spectators, playing a match
on a neutral ground or a ban on playing in a particular stadium.
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Article 24: Repeated infringements
a. In any case the Committee may increase the sanction to be pronounced
as deemed appropriate if an infringement has been repeated within the
previous 5 seasons.
b. Although records of cautions and dismissals are expunged at the
conclusion of each season, consideration may be given to cases of a
similar nature
within the previous 5 seasons.
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Article 25: Referee
a. During matches, disciplinary decisions are taken by the referee.
b. These decisions are final.
c. Facts contained in match officials’ reports are presumed to
be accurate.
d. Proof of the inaccuracy of the contents of these reports may be
provided.
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e. If there is any discrepancy in the reports from the various match
officials and there are no means of resolving the different versions
of the facts,
the referee’s report is considered authoritative regarding incidents
that occurred on the field of play; the match delegate’s report
is considered authoritative regarding incidents that occurred outside
the
field of play.
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Article 26: Appeal to Disciplinary Committee
a. A player, official or club may submit an ‘Appeal to the Disciplinary
Committee’ in the following circumstances:
1. In the case of mistaken identity for a player who is cautioned or
dismissed in a match.
2. In the case of an automatic Disciplinary Committee sanction.
3. In the case of an additional sanction following a dismissal (Only
for serious foul play, violent conduct, a head-butt or for spitting).
b. An appeal from a player/official/club must be in writing despatched
by special delivery letter to the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee
within 4 days after (excluding Sunday):
1. The date the decision was intimated in writing to the person or
club concerned.
2. Or the date of a match (Only in the case of mistaken identity).
c. A deposit of £75 must be lodged with each appeal which shall
be returnable only where the appeal is upheld.
d. In lodging an appeal the player/official/club must state fully in
writing the grounds for the request for their appeal and provide the
necessary
proof in support of the appeal.
e. On receipt of such claim, and providing the claim is in order, the
automatic suspension will be set aside pending the outcome of the case’s
consideration by the Committee.
f. Only complete appeals submitted before the relevant deadlines will
be considered by the Committee.
g. No appeals will be heard against cautions or dismissals except in
the case of mistaken identity.
h. The Committee retains discretion to deal with each case on its merits.
i. Should a player or official participate in a match without the appropriate
notification from the IFA, having lodged an appeal as set out above,
the Committee will impose an appropriate charge of misconduct against
the player
or official concerned for participating in a match whilst being ineligible.
j. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the player/official and his club
may be held liable in all, or in part of, the expenses of the appeal
procedure.
Should the Committee consider any appeal to be of a frivolous nature
or merely to release a player or official from suspension to enable
them to
participate in a match they shall have the power to deal with the player/official/club
as it deems appropriate.
k. An appeal may be withdrawn by a player/official/club prior to the
hearing of the case but before the original suspension was due to commence
by notifying
the Secretary of such withdrawal in writing. The appeal will, upon
receipt of such notification by the Secretary, be deemed to be abandoned
and
the original decision against which, the player/official/club appealed,
imposed.
Upon the withdrawal of an appeal, the appeal deposit will be automatically
forfeited. The player’s or official’s club may be held
liable in all or part for the expenses of the appeal procedure.
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Article 27: Personal Hearings
a. When a player/official/club lodges an ‘Appeal to the Disciplinary
Committee’ he will be advised of the date, venue and time of
the hearing.
b. The match official(s) concerned may be required to attend the hearing
at the discretion of the Committee
c. In the event that either the player/official/club is unable to attend
on the advised meeting date, the hearing will be postponed until such
time as all required parties are available to attend a committee meeting.
The
Committee reserves the right to deal with the case after two postponements.
The Committee also reserves the right to deal with the case if a player/official/club
fails to attend a hearing with out prior notice.
d. In any hearing the player/official/club will be required to submit
the composition of their delegation for the hearing in writing to the
Secretary
of the Disciplinary Committee no later than 48 hours prior to the hearing..
e. Television evidence may be used to examine incidents involving players/officials,
in the event that reports are submitted. It is open to the player/official/club
to refer to such evidence in his submission. The Committee may provide
video footage in any case. The Committee will decide whether the video
footage provided will be used in the hearing.
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Article 28: Procedures for the Conducting of Personal Hearings
a. The Disciplinary Committee comprises 12 members. The quorum for
the Committee is 5 members. A member is obliged to retire from the
consideration
of any case if it involves their club or a club in the same division
as their club. Neither shall they vote nor direct any vote to be cast
with
regard to such a matter.
b. The player/official and any nominee, who may accompany and represent
him, shall be admitted to the hearing, together with the referee and
any other relevant match official or other such person who submitted
a report
on the case in question.
c. The Committee may require the attendance at the hearing of any witness.
In any case where a witness required by the committee to attend the
hearing refuses or fails to attend, the committee shall be entitled
to take account
of that witness' evidence as is made apparent to it in any other form.
d. At the commencement of the hearing, the Chairman shall confirm the
identities of the persons admitted to the hearing and introduce the
Committee members.
The player/official/club will be required to give good reason for any
objection to the composition of the Committee.
e. The Committee shall satisfy itself that the player/official is aware
of the reasons for his presence at the hearing and the severity of
the allegations made against him.
f. The referee and any other person in support of the charge shall
be given the opportunity to comment upon and supplement his report.
g. The player/official and/or his representative shall be given the
opportunity to comment upon and supplement his written submission to
the committee.
h. At any time, the Chairman, and through him, members of the Committee
may ask questions of any of the parties. The Committee may draw such
inferences as it considers appropriate from the failure of the person
charged to give
evidence or answer a question put to him.
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i. Evidence from any witness called by the player/official/club or
the Committee may be heard.
j. Any television evidence deemed appropriate by the Committee shall
be viewed in the presence of the player/official and/or club representative.
(See Article 27e in the IFA Disciplinary Code)
k. The committee shall consider the evidence and submissions presented
to it and determine whether the player/official has been found guilty
of misconduct or not. The committee may, if required, request the presence
of the parties again for further questioning.
l. After reaching its decision, the committee shall recall the player/official
and his representative(s). If the player/official has been found guilty
of misconduct, he and his representative shall be advised of the decision
of the committee, which shall subsequently be confirmed in writing
to him.
m. The player/official shall be advised that he has a right of appeal
to the Appeals Board of the IFA and shall be provided with the relevant
details.
This information shall also be confirmed in writing to him.
n. If the player/official has not been found guilty of misconduct the
hearing will be declared closed.
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Article 29: Misconduct which has come to the
attention of the Committee other than by means of a match official’s
report
a. A club submitting a claim of misconduct about any player, official
or club MUST:
• Submit their claim in writing despatched by special delivery letter to
the Secretary of the Disciplinary Committee writing 72 hours (excluding
Sunday) from the alleged misconduct taking place.
• A deposit of £75 shall be lodged with each claim which shall be
returnable only where there is a case to answer.
• In lodging a claim the club must state fully in writing outlining their
claim and including all relevant information to substantiate their
claim.
b. Claims of misconduct brought before the Committee either by the
Committee or another Committee or department within the IFA will not
require to
be submitted within the 72 hour time frame or with a deposit of £75.
c. All claims of misconduct from a club will require full co-operation
from the claimant.
d. The Association will, in the first instance, confirm to the player/official/
club, that the matter is being referred to the Committee to determine
whether or not there is a case to answer.
e. If the Committee decides that there is no case to answer, the player,
official and/or club will be advised that no further action will be
taken.
f. If the Committee decides that there is a case to answer, the Association
will confirm to the player, official or club that they are being called
to appear before the Committee.
g. All claims resulting in the necessity for a personal hearing will
be dealt with as directed in Articles 27 and 28 of the IFA Disciplinary
Code.
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Article 30: Delegated Authority
Where a case is delegated by the Executive Board the Committee may
impose any sanction deemed appropriate.
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Article 31: Serious Offences
Where a match officials’ report indicates
that a serious offence has occurred which is not specified in the IFA
Disciplinary Code the
Committee reserves the right to impose more severe sanctions within
the FIFA Disciplinary
Code.
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Article 32: Appeals Board
Appeals
against decisions of the Committee must be lodged as directed in Article
19 of the IFA’s Articles of
Association.
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Article 33: Divisional Association’s Disciplinary
Codes
The Divisional Associations shall adopt this code for the purpose
of harmonising disciplinary sanctions.
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