The Barclays Premier League, the Coca-Cola Football League and the Nationwide Football Conference National Division will this season be piloting a new system for disciplinary measures, and Southend United have, of course, already been dealt a blow as striker Tesfaye Bramble missed the midweek draw with the Red Imps after he was sent off against Cheltenham Town on the opening day of the season. He also misses the trip to Rochdale and the home clash with Cambridge United.
A review of how the system has worked will take place at the end of the campaign with consultation gleaned from the Football Association (F.A.), the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), the League Managers’ Association (LMA), the Premier League, the Football League and the Football Conference, as well as feeder leagues and the referees.
Part One
Automatic suspensions will be dealt out for incidents seen and dealt with by the referee. Suspensions are dished out immediately, unless and appeal for wrongful dismissal or mistaken identity is lodged with the F.A. For this appeal the clubs have until midday on the next working day to notify the F.A. that they will complain, and then until noon the next working day to lodge their complaint, together with evidence. All claims will be dealt with within five days.
Part Two
This covers on-field incidents not seen by the referee but caught on video, and only applies to sending-off offences such as violent conduct, spitting, offensive words and gestures. The incident is dealt with in the same manner as if the match official had seen them, and sanctions take the form of match bans, not fines. Charges and sanctions are issued within two working days, and if the player denies the charge the case is heard by the Disciplinary Commission within a week via documentary or video evidence and not in the from of a personal hearing. Suspensions (if enforced) start immediately after the hearing, and if appealed against are debated at a personal hearing.
Part Three
Incidents outside the jurisdiction of match officials but are reported to the F.A. include the failure to leave the pitch after being shown a red card and incidents after the final whistle. The F.A. will issue a charge within two working days, and requests for a personal hearing, as well as plea, have to be received within the next 24 hours. Relevant submissions are then taken on board and the F.A. will correspond within another two days. The personal hearing will then be scheduled for the next available date.
Part Four
Fast-track appeals can be lodged for suspensions longer than three matches, when the incident was not seen by the match referee. The appeal can only correspond to games excluding the first three fixtures, which carry a mandatory suspension. The F.A. must be notified, however, by noon the next working day of a hearing or on receipt of written reasons. Appeal documentation then follows within another day and the appeal itself is heard at the next possible date. In the case of non-playing staff and complex incidents, the Disciplinary Commission controls the speed of the piece.
Part Five
Disciplinary Commissions contain three committee members, and can include a fourth member of the football community to act as a layperson. Appeal bodies comprise of a legally-qualified Independent Chairman, an F.A. Council member and a layperson. Suspensions for accumulated yellow cards come into effect seven, and not fourteen, days after the offence.
Robert Craven
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