Complaints by Member Clubs regarding the behaviour of other Member Clubs, howsoever arising shall be submitted to the General Secretary within 14 days of the relevant event. The complaint must:
(i) be in writing signed by the Club Secretary;
(ii) provide full details of the matters complained of;
(iii) be accompanied by the written statement of any witness to the event or other evidence which the complainant seeks to rely upon.
Where misconduct is alleged or a complaint is made against a Club or individual (“a Respondent”) the General Secretary shall if applicable send the complaint to the relevant County Football Association or in the case of a matter deemed by the General Secretary suitable to be dealt with by the league notify the Club or individual concerned and request a response thereto.
Within 7 days after such notification the Respondent shall provide any response to the General Secretary in writing signed in the case of a Club, by the Club Secretary, and accompanied by the written statement of any witness to the event or other evidence which the complainant seeks to rely upon.
In the absence of any response or in the absence of a response which satisfies the General Secretary that the allegation is unsubstantiated, the matter shall be referred by the General Secretary to the Disciplinary Committee.
The Disciplinary Committee shall thereafter consider the matter and shall:
(i) determine the matter on paper if it considers that the matter can properly be so determined; or
(ii) determine the matter following a hearing.
Where the complaint involves any breech of League Rule other than for which a fixed penalty allows the club / team shall receive a formal charge notice and follow the procedure outlined in League Rule 6 (D).
In the event that the matter is to be determined at a hearing the General Secretary shall notify the parties concerned of the date thereof so as to provide them with 7 days’ notice.
All parties to a protest or complaint must receive a copy of the submission and must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to the protest or complaint being heard:
(i) All parties must have received 7 days’ notice of the Hearing should they be instructed to attend;
(ii) Should a Club elect to state its case in person then they should forward a deposit of £50.00 and indicate such when forwarding the written response.
At the hearing before the Disciplinary Committee:
(i) Each party shall be permitted a defined time by the Disciplinary Committee within which he or his representative shall be permitted to open his case;
(ii) Each party shall be permitted to call such witnesses as he wishes to rely upon to give evidence and to put reasonable questions, through the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, by way of cross-examination of any other party’s witness; and
(iii) After the conclusion of the evidence, each party shall be permitted a defined time by the Disciplinary Committee within which he or his representative may make a closing submission.
Provided that the Disciplinary Committee shall nevertheless retain the power to alter or add to such procedures as it considers appropriate in the particular circumstances.
The Disciplinary Committee shall have the power to extend or abridge time in relation to any matter within its jurisdiction and to adjourn a hearing from time to time as it considers appropriate.
Following a determination the decision of the Disciplinary Committee shall be notified to the Respondent.
The Respondent may appeal against any decision of the Disciplinary Committee to the relevant County Football Association in accordance with Rule 7 if the Rules of the relevant County Football Association permit.
