Norfolk County
Football Association Ltd
Match Based Suspensions
Questions and Answers
Match Based Suspensions – Questions and Answers
Q
If a player receives a 1 match suspension and bad weather means there is no football for 5 weeks, he
will receive a much longer suspension?
A
Is it honestly fair that under the time based system the player would not actually serve a suspension?
If a player is suspended he should miss the correct number of fixtures. In any case, if there has been no
football then he would not have been able to play so he will not have actually missed any matches.
Q
If we have to update you every time games are postponed this is a lot more work for us?
A
We are making changes to ensure that this can be done as easily as possible. All Clubs need to be
aware if players have actually served a suspension, this will ensure that players do not play when they
should be suspended.
Q
What if the Match Official has got it in for you, there is no right of appeal for dismissals?
A
There is a right of appeal, however this will require video evidence. The FA do not have concerns that
Match Officials are deliberately penalising players in this fashion.
Q
Will misconduct charge punishments be in matches or days?
A
Generally they will be matches, however Commissions will have the ability to impose time based
suspensions in the most serious cases. Remember, if a player is charged with misconduct then the
punishment that they receive is from all football.
Q
Will Club Officials also receive match based suspensions?
A
It will be up to the Commissions discretion, but it is expected that in the majority of cases, Club
Officials will receive match based suspensions.
Q
If a Club receive a fine for multi player misconduct will this be on top of any other misconduct
charges arising from the fixture?
A
Yes it will.
Q
Is there a cut off date for receiving a suspension for 5 cautions?
A
Yes. Under the match based discipline system the cut off point is 31 December.
Q
If a Player plays on a Saturday and a Sunday does the suspension affect both, even if the Saturday
side is Match Based?
A
If a Player is sent off playing Saturdays and receives a Match Based suspension, that individual is
suspended from Saturday type football only. The Player will be able to play on Sunday’s while the
suspension is in place, and vice versa if the Player was to be sent off on a Sunday.
If a Player receives a Misconduct Charge, and a punishment is imposed the Player will be suspended
from ALL football, until the team he was playing for at the time of receiving the charge has completed
the necessary qualifying matches for the suspension to be completed.
Q
If a Club operates two teams, ‘First’ and ‘Reserves’, a First team Player plays in the Reserves and
receives a Sending Off, what team does he/she serve the suspension for?
A
All suspensions are to be served for the team the Player was sent off playing for at the time. If the
Player is sent off for the Reserves, he/she is not able to play that type of football (including the First
Team) until the Reserves have completed the required number of fixtures.
Q
If a Player receives a caution on a Saturday and Sunday, are they added together as a total or are
they kept separate?
A
For a Player to reach five cautions these must have been received from the same type of football,
therefore as an example a Player must be cautioned five times on a Saturday to receive a suspension.
If a Player receives three cautions on a Saturday and two on a Sunday this will not result in the Player
being suspended.
Match Based Suspensions Q & A Booklet
www.NorfolkFA.com
01603 704050
Page 1
Match Based Suspensions – Questions and Answers
Q
At the end of a Season a team has no more qualifying matches for a Player to serve the remainder of
his/her suspension, does the suspension get lifted?
A
The individual must serve the suspension for the team that they were sent off playing for, if that team
has no more qualifying matches that would count towards the suspension, the suspension would be
lifted and carried over to the following season, and the suspension would commence from the date of
the first qualifying match for that team.
Q
A Player has joined us from another Club but has a suspension, can that suspension be served at the
Club the Player has now joined?
A
If a Player has joined a new Club and has a suspension outstanding, that suspension can be served for
the new Club on the following conditions; The suspension must not have commenced, the team the
Player was sent off for must be under the same discipline regulations as the one they have joined and
the County Association must be satisfied with the transfer of the discipline suspension to the new
Club. If the suspension has already commenced the suspension is not able to be transferred to the new
Club.
Q
What about League Representative football?
A
This will be match based, but only from Representative football.
Q
If it is not a recognised fixture, is a player free to play in it?
A
No. The suspension is from playing until the appropriate team has played the appropriate amount of
qualifying games.
Q
If a Match Official does not send through a report, what happens?
A
Norfolk County FA will contact the Match Official to obtain a copy of the report. If you have still not
received any correspondence after 14 days you should contact Norfolk County FA. In the event of not
receiving correspondence this is not a defence for playing a player under suspension. You know the
player was sent off and should therefore know that the suspension will commence 21 days later.
Q
What is the time frame for lodging an appeal of mistaken identity?
A
You must lodge the appeal with Norfolk County FA within 3 working days of the fixture.
Q
What happens if a Club folds or a player transfers?
A
If a player transfers after being dismissed the qualifying matches to clear the suspension will be those
of the Club that the player has transferred from. If a Club folds then the player will be suspended from
the qualifying matches of his new Club.
Q
How do I know who has been cautioned in a fixture? I need to know if a player receives his 5th /
10th / 15th caution?
A
If you approach the Match Official in the right way after the fixture he will be happy to provide this
information. Otherwise you will be sent correspondence from the County FA. Suspensions from
5/10/15 cautions do not commence until 21 days after the fixture.
Q
We don’t video our games, no-one at our level does?
A
For those Clubs that do this feature is a bonus of the system. There is an appeal procedure, however
video evidence is required. This is in agreement with FIFA. FIFA have allowed us to have appeals
against dismissals, which is contrary to other countries. This is however on the understanding that
appeals are only allowed where there is clear video evidence to support the claim. Such evidence must
show that the Match Official made a clear and obvious error in order for the claim to be successful.
Match Based Suspensions Q & A Booklet
www.NorfolkFA.com
01603 704050
Page 2
Match Based Suspensions – Questions and Answers
Q
What if after the game the Match Official changes his mind and says that he should have cautioned
the player rather than dismissing him?
A
Under FIFA directives once a player has been dismissed from the Field of Play he has been dismissed
and should therefore serve a suspension. This system also protects Match Officials from being
‘encouraged’ not to send a report in by Clubs after the fixture has been completed.
Q
What if a Match Assessor agrees that one of the cautions issued was incorrect?
A
Match Assessors do not have the ability to remove cautions, once they have been issued by the Match
Official they stand. The opinion of the Match Assessor is only a subjective view.
Q
A Player received a Sending Off and a Misconduct Charge but there is only one Administration Fee?
A
If in the same game there is a need to raise two charges from the same report only one administration
fee shall be included on the response forms. Therefore should you have a charge with no fee you still
must respond to the County Association for this to be dealt with by a Discipline Commission.
Q
What if we don’t have a qualified, registered Referee for our fixture?
A
A person acting in the capacity of Referee on a Match Day has the same powers and duties of those
that are registered officials. Therefore should any discipline sanctions be imposed on the day a report
must be submitted to the local County Football Association for the appropriate charges to be raised.
Q
A Player has a suspension from Adult football (match based) but also plays in a youth league, is the
Player able to participate in the Youth football while serving the suspension from open aged
football?
A
If the Player has a suspension from being sent off, and therefore the suspension is from
Saturday/Sunday type football only, during this time period the Player would be permitted to play in
Youth football.
If the Player however was suspended for receiving a Misconduct charge, this is from all football so the
Player would not be able to participate.
2011-12 SUSPENSIONS AND FINE STRUCTURE
Standard Charges
S1 - Serious Foul Play
S2 - Violent Conduct
S3 - Spitting
S4 - DOGSO - handball
S5 - DOGSO - freekick
S6 – Abusive/Offensive Language
S7 - 2nd Caution
Term Based
Youth
Susp
Fine (£)
(Days)
21
35
112
7
7
35
7
25
25
50
15
15
25
15
Match Based
Below NLS*
Susp
Fine (£)
(Matches)
3
3
6
1
1
2
1
25
25
50
15
15
25
15
Match Based
Step 5-7
Susp
Fine (£)
(Matches)
3
3
6
1
1
2
1
40
40
50
20
20
30
20
* National League System
If you have any doubts at all about any suspension, or any other discipline matters, please contact us at Norfolk
County FA Headquarters and we will be happy to help you.
Match Based Suspensions Q & A Booklet
www.NorfolkFA.com
01603 704050
Page 3