West Wales Football Association (Affiliated to the Football Association of Wales)
To All Affiliated Clubs
18 September 2018
Dear Secretary
PLAYER AND CLUB INDISCIPLINE
The West Wales Football Association (WWFA) have become extremely concerned at the rapid increase in gross indiscipline that has been experienced recently. In view of this the WWFA give notice that penalties for the following offences (and any classed in a similar vein) will be treated extremely harshly both financially and by imposing match suspensions where appropriate.
Assaults on Referees
Players found guilty of an assault on a referee will be dealt with according to the provisions of the FAW guidelines as published in the handbook for season 2018-19. Any suspension will be imposed from the date of the offence.
Abandoned Matches
If a club is charged with causing the abandonment of a match it may be offered a Reduced Penalty Offer of £140 which has to be accepted within 7 business days of the charge being issued. If no reply is received within this time limit or the case is proven on appeal the CLUB will be FINED £200 PLUS COSTS AND SUSPENDED FOR ONE LEAGUE OR CUP MATCH, effective 14 days from the date of the notice of suspension being sent to the club.
Further Indiscipline by Players Sent From The Field Of Play
Players will be charged with this offence as at present and where appropriate maybe offered a reduced penalty and suspension. More serious cases will be dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee where the sentence will reflect the seriousness of the charge along with any costs incurred.
Indiscipline By Club Coaches And Officials
This may also be dealt with by a Reduced Penalty Offer where appropriate along with a touchline suspension. More serious cases will be dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee where the sentence will reflect the seriousness of the charge and result in a TOUCHLINE or MATCHDAY SUSPENSION placed on the official along with an appropriate fine and costs.
Indiscipline Of Spectators
Offences in this category will only be dealt with by the Disciplinary Committee and may result in a fine and/or CLUB SUSPENSION for a number of League or Cup matches along with any costs imposed.
Second Offences In The Same Season
Where a club is charged with a second similar offence in the same season it will incur an AUTOMATIC MATCH(S) SUSPENSION AND FINE to be determined by the Disciplinary Committee based on the severity of the offence.
Serving Of Match Suspensions
Any suspension(s) imposed will be served in the next match from the notified date of the commencement of the suspension and maybe in a League, League Cup, WWFA or Football Association of Wales (FAW) Cup competition. Suspensions imposed on Senior clubs will affect ALL teams within that club on the date(s) that it is in force.
Suspensions on Junior Clubs will be served by the team serving the suspension on the date(s) that it is in force.
Suspensions arising in the West Wales Youth League, West Wales Women’s & Girls League, Pembrokeshire Women’s & Girls League and UCCL will be served in matches played in the relevant competition.
Unexpired Suspensions At The End Of The Season
Any unexpired suspension will be carried forward to be served in the first League or Cup match(s) in the following season. This cannot be served in pre-season or approved sanctioned competitions.
Unexpired suspensions on age related clubs will be served at the next age group in the new season, e.g. suspension imposed at Under 13 age group in season 2017-18 would be served by teams at Under 14 age group in season 2018-19, thereby only affecting the team of the same age group of that where the offence was committed.
Offences Committed In WWFA Cup Competitions
Where a club is found to have caused an abandonment of a WWFA competition match at any level or the additional charge of failing to control its players and officials it will face the following sanctions:
Being struck out of the competition for the current season and
Being refused entry for a minimum of THREE seasons thereafter. In the event of the offence being committed by an age related team that suspension will follow the progress of the team into future years.
League Sanctions For Clubs Being Suspended
Where a club is suspended from playing and fails to fulfill a League or League Cup fixture it will be for the relevant League to impose any charges that may be appropriate within its League rules and regulations, and the said match will not be replayed. Any punishment imposed will be in addition to that imposed by the WWFA.
Advice To Clubs
All clubs are responsible for the players that they register and therefore cannot avoid any responsibility for any financial penalties that are imposed and will be required to make payment to the WWFA within 21 days from notification of any fine imposed and arrange to reclaim the monies from the player/official involved.
The WWFA are determined to substantially reduce the volume of aggravated indiscipline within local football and where necessary will impose severe penalties and suspensions in order to achieve this aim. If it means that clubs become defunct or cease to exist for the good of the game and protection of those who participate in it, then the WWFA is prepared to face this challenge head on.
Please advise all persons within your club of the contents of this letter and take note that a condition of your affiliation with the WWFA is that your club accepts the Association’s regulations.
Yours sincerely
Ceri Richards
Secretary WWFA