PERTHSHIRE AMATEUR FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

A. Standard offences - Player does not require to be cited to attend a meeting.

Suspensions for a number of matches (match suspensions) will be imposed based on the Association's fixed penalty guidelines as detailed in the appendix. There is no right of appeal against a Fixed Penalty suspension.

These suspensions will apply only to the team with which the player committed the misconduct. (i.e. Saturday club or Sunday club) and will until such times as that team has completed the requisite number of matches played in competitions which are scheduled by the relevant national, regional, district, association or league Match Secretary/Secretary.

A match which is abandoned does not count as a completed match in terms of a player serving suspension.

B. Serious Offences of Exceptional Misconduct
1. Referee assault.
2. Physically threatening a referee
3. Verbally threatening a referee.
4. Physical assault on or by club officials

Suspensions would be for a period of time (dated suspensions) and would be imposed based on the Association's guidelines for serious offences as detailed.

These suspensions will be forwarded to the Scottish Football Association for confirmation to all football.

All misconduct reports relating to offences of the above nature must be forwarded to the Secretary of the Scottish Amateur Football Association by the appropriate authority in order that they can be dealt with by the relevant national disciplinary committee appointed by the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

C. Serious Offences
1. Headbutting
2. Spitting

Suspensions would be for a period of time (dated suspensions) and would be imposed lased on the Association's guidelines for serious offences as detailed.

These suspensions will be forwarded to the Scootish Football Association for confirmation to all football.

All misconduct reports relating to offences of the above nature will be dealt with by the appropriate association, league or district committee of the Scottish Amateur Football Association.

For all offences misconduct report forms will be forwarded by the relevant match official(s) in the first instance to the appropriate authority which shall be determined by the competition in order that the appropriate suspensions can be detremined. A report of all suspensions for a number of matches (match suspensions) and suspensions for a period of time (dated suspensions) will be forwarded to the National Secretary of the Scottish Amateur Football Association who will then refer such releveant suspensions to the Scottish Football Association for confirmation and effect to all football.

Serving of Suspensions

The relevant football authority will confirm in writing to the player or official and their registered club the details of any suspension which has been imposed on the player or official.

A player while serving a fixed penalty suspension cannot play for any team within his club until the team with which he committed the offence has played the requisite number of games.

(1) Any player receiving a games suspension as a result of an offence committed while playing for a Saturday club would be suspended from all Saturday football within the jurisdiction of the Scottish Amateur FA until his Saturday club has played and completed the requisite number of games.

The same criteria as (1) would apply to suspensions imposed as a result of offences committed while playing for a Sunday club with the player being suspended from all Sunday football under the jurisdication of the Scottish Amateur FA until his Sunday club has completed the requisite number of games unless he is transferred to a new club in which case the suspension will be served when his new club has played and completed the required number of games.

Any match suspension or part thereof which remains outstanding at the end of a season or any extension thereof must be served at the commencement of the following season regardless of which club the player joins with the same principle being applied should a player be transferred to another club prior to the suspension commencing.

Any match suspension or part thereof which is outstanding when a player joins a new club at the start of the season or is transferred to another club during the season must be served with the player’s new club and the player will be ineligible to play for his new club until that club has played and completed the required number of matches.A player can only serve a match suspension if he is registered with a club in membership of the Scottish Amateur Football Association and will only begin to serve his suspension from the date of his registration being accepted by the relevant authority.

Serving a games suspension would not prevent a player transferring to another club during the term of that suspension.

Note: This dispensation would not apply to dated suspensions.

All suspensions will commence on the Friday which is at least 14 days after the date of the postmark on the written notification of the suspension to the player or official and their club.

A player or official suspended for a period of time (dated suspensions) shall be eligible to participate on the last date of his suspension.

Further Reports

If a player is further reported after having been ordered off and that report comes into the category of standard offences the appropriate fixed penalty would be added to his suspension for the first offence.

Should a player be called to appear before a disciplinary committee that committee shall have the authority to impose a sanction in terms of a fixed penalty or dated suspension whichever is considered appropriate to the offence of which the player has been found guilty.

Note: Any player who amasses a total suspension of 10 games or more in any one season will be cited to appear before the relevant committee for any subsequent misconduct reports with that committee having the authority to impose any sanction deemed appropriate in such cases.

Club Officials
All club officials reported must be called before the relevant committee to answer specific charges arising from the misconduct report in question.

The relevant committee shall fine the official's club the sum of £25.00 if that official is found guilty of any offence.

Cautions
There will be no right of appeal against any caution or cautions received except in the case where there may be a case of mistaken identity.

In addition to the above Fixed Penalties the secretaries of local leagues/associations will record single cautions incurred by players during matches. A player will be subject to the apllication of the following suspensions for every set of four cautions accumulated during the course of the playing season. the record will be maintained on a seasonable basis only. Cautions for one playing season will not be carried forward to the next season.

Accumulation of cautions 4 cautions 2 Games
Second 4 cautions 4 Games
Third 4 cautions 6 Games

Terms of dated suspensions imposed by the Scottish Amateur F.A.
When a suspension has been confirmed by this Association and the S.F.A. a person who is suspended cannot play, participate as an official, act as a linesman, act as a trainer, sign any papers, registration of transfer forms, be in a club dressing room or formally travel in the club transport to games.

A person who is suspended can attend matches played on public parks as a spectator but if he attends a private park he can be asked to leave.

Guidelines for Serious Offences

Although these giudelines should be applied where applicable it should be appreciated that they are guidelines and cases of indiscipline should be dealt with through the discretion of the committee considering a particular case. In cases of a serious nature where an Association or League choose not to implement the guidelines they must include a letter of explanation containing the reasons why they have reached their decision with their suspension sheets and it should be noted that when submitting suspensions of one year or longer it is necessary to include a copy of the referee's report relevant to the suspension and that the nature of the offence "Violent conduct" must be detailed to indicate punching or kicking an opponent etc.

Referee assault
Must be a dated suspension with a maximum suspension of 10 years - not "Sine Die"

Physically threatening referee - attempting to lay hands on the referee.
Maximum suspension 5 years

Verbally threatening referee
Maximum suspension 3 years

Physical assault on club officials
Maximum suspension 3 years

Serious violent conduct e.g. deliberately kicking opponent on head
Maximum suspension 3 years

Headbutting
Maximum suspension 18 months

Removing minimum suspension will allow committees to use their discretion after considering all evidence in such cases as Attempted headbutting or Head to Head confrontation of Eyeball to Eyeball stance.

Spitting
Maximum suspension 5 years

Spitting at or on a referee is considered to be serious assualt

Deliberately and knowingly playing a suspended player under an assumed name.
Maximum suspension 3 years

Deliberately playing while under suspension, using an assumed name.
Maximum suspension 3 years

Deliberately and knowingly playing a suspended player
Maximum suspension 3 years

Deliberatey playing or participating while under suspension
Maximum suspension 2 years.