DEFINITIONS
Area Association Any regional football association defined under the FAW Rules
Association The West Wales Football Association
Association Football The game controlled by FIFA and organised in accordance with the Laws of the Game
Business Day Any day of the week except a Saturday or Sunday or public bank holiday in Wales
Chief Executive Officer the senior employee of The Football Association of Wales Ltd
Club any club admitted into membership or associate membership of the Association
Council the supreme executive body of the Association
Councillor each member of the Council
Disciplinary Notice a written notice from the Association stipulating the nature of the alleged
Disciplinary Offence
Disciplinary Offence any breach of a Rule or any Regulation
Disciplinary Panel the panel of the Association empowered to hear disciplinary matters and
disputes pursuant to these Rules.
FAW The Football Association of Wales Limited (company number 00213349)
whose registered office is at 11/12 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff, CF24 5PJ
FAW Rules the Rules and Regulations of the FAW as amended from time to time and all byelaws, orders, codes, policies, procedures and any other directive or instruction issued by the FAW from time to time.
FIFA Fédération Internationale de Football Association
FIFA Rules the statutes of FIFA as amended from time to time and all rules, regulations, orders and other directives issued by FIFA from time to time.
Futsal a game controlled by FIFA and organised in accordance with the Futsal Laws of the Game
Futsal Laws of the Game the laws and other rules for playing Futsal prescribed by FIFA from time to time
IFAB the International Football Association Board
Laws of the Game the laws and other rules for playing Association Football as prescribed by
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 8
IFAB from time to time
League any league admitted into membership or associate membership
of the Association
Member a League or Club that has been admitted into membership or associate
membership of the Association
Player a player of Association Football registered with the FAW, the Association,
an Area Association, League, Club or any other league or club
Playing Season the period in each year when Association Football may be played in Wales
as determined by the FAW
Regulations the regulations, byelaws, orders, codes, policies, procedures and any other
directive or instruction issued by the Association from time to time
Request Fee the appropriate sum pursuant to the Rules of the Association
Request Notice a written notice stipulating the nature of the matter complained of and
requesting that such matter be referred to the Disciplinary Panel
Rules these rules of the Association as amended from time to time
Subordinate shall mean:
• any director, member, representative, official, employee, referee or
other playing official or Player of a Club or League;
• every spectator at a game of Association Football in which a team of a
Club plays, or in which a representative team of the Association or
League plays, and any person purporting to be a supporter or follower of
such League, Club or the Association PROVIDED THAT the provisions of
Rules 5, 24.1.3, 24.1.4, 24.1.4(A), 24.1.5(A), 24.1.6, 24.1.8, 24.1.10,
24.1.14, 46 and 47 shall not apply to such spectators, supporters or
followers;
• all other organisations, clubs, bodies, entities or persons who the
Association exercises, or purports to exercise, control; and
UEFA Union des Association Européennes de Football
UEFA Rules the statutes of UEFA as amended from time to time and all rules,
regulations, orders and other directives issued by UEFA from time to time
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 9
OBJECTIVES
1. Throughout West Wales, to improve the game of Association Football constantly and promote,
regulate and control it in accordance with the FAW Rules and in the light of fair play and its
unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values;
2. Throughout West Wales, to organise competitions, and authorise others to organise competitions, in
Association Football in all its forms at all levels under its authority, by defining precisely, as required,
the areas of authority of its various leagues and other affiliated bodies;
3. To draw up all necessary regulations to implement its rights, powers and objectives set out under the
FAW Rules and such measures and procedures as may be necessary to ensure their enforcement;
4. To protect the interest of its Members;
5. To comply with and prevent any infringement of the FIFA Rules, UEFA Rules and the FAW Rules
and all decisions of FIFA, UEFA and the FAW as well as the Laws of the Game and ensure
compliance with these by its Members;
6. To support, promote and enforce the Football Association of Wales’ Club Accreditation Programme.
7. Throughout West Wales, to prevent all methods or practices which might jeopardise the integrity of
football matches or competitions or give rise to abuse of Association Football under its authority;
8. To manage the sporting relations of West Wales FA connected with Association Football in all
its forms;
9. To be neutral in matters of politics and religion and in discharging its functions, the West Wales
FA will not discriminate against a private person, or group of people, or other entity, on account
of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion, politics, age or any other reason and will ensure
compliance with these obligations by its Members;
10. To promote friendly relations between its Members, Subordinates and in society for
humanitarian objectives.
OBLIGATIONS
11. To comply fully with the FIFA Rules, UEFA Rules and the FAW Rules at all times and to ensure
that these are also complied with fully by its Members and Subordinates;
12. To ensure fairness in the election of its decision-making bodies;
13. To take part in competitions and other sports activities organised by the FAW;
14. To pay its membership subscriptions to the FAW;
15. To respect the Laws of the Game and to ensure that these are also respected by its Members
and Subordinates through an appropriate provision in its own membership rules;
16. To adopt and enforce an appropriate provision in its own membership rules specifying that any
dispute requiring resolution involving itself or one of its Members or Subordinates and relating
to its Rules and Regulations or the FAW Rules and any decisions of the Association shall, at
the appropriate stage in the dispute, come solely under the jurisdiction of the appropriate
Disciplinary Body or the panel under FAW Rule 146, as the case may be;
17. Not to make any change or any amendment of its own membership rules without the approval
of the FAW;
18. To communicate to its own Members any amendment of its own membership rules and the
FAW Rules;
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 10
19. Not to maintain any relations of a sporting nature with entities that are not recognised by FIFA,
UEFA or the FAW or with Members or Subordinates that have been suspended or expelled by
the FAW;
20. To observe the principles of loyalty, integrity and good sporting behaviour as an expression of
fair play through an appropriate provision in its own membership rules;
21. To keep and update regularly a register of its Members;
22. To comply fully with all other duties arising from the FIFA Rules, UEFA Rules and the FAW
Rules, including the recommendations of the 2016 Area Associations Review Group and its
Improvement Plan.
DISCIPLINARY PROCEEDINGS, DISPUTES, APPEALS
PANEL STRUCTURE, COMPOSITION AND JURISDICTION
23. The structure of the Association’s mechanisms for dealing with disciplinary proceedings,
disputes and appeals is as follows:-
23.1 the Disciplinary Panel
24. For the purpose of this section of the Rules:-
24.1 It shall be a breach of the Rules for any Councillor, Member or any Subordinate to
do or permit or assist in the doing or permitting of any of the following whether in
connection with the playing of Association Football or Futsal:-
24.1.1 violate the Laws of the Game or the Futsal Laws of the Game or the Rules or any
Regulation or violate the FIFA Rules, UEFA Rules or FAW Rules;
24.1.2 violate the rules or regulations (in whatever form) of any Member or any
competition, sanctioned by a Member or sanctioned by the Association;
24.1.3 play with or against any club suspended by FIFA, UEFA, the FAW, the Association,
any Area Association or league or any other national football association recognised
by FIFA or appoint or allow to remain in office a director or official who has been
suspended by any such body;
24.1.4 in respect of matches taking place within the jurisdiction of the Association, bet in
any betting activity (authorised and registered football pools excepted) or accept
any bets in any way related to any match;
24.1.4(A) in respect of matches involving any Member, Subordinate or the Association playing
any match in a competition outside Wales, a Councillor, Member or Subordinate
shall not bet in any betting activity (authorised and registered football pools
excepted) or accept any bets in any way related to the said match or any other
match in the competition in which the match involving the said Member or
Subordinate takes place;
24.1.5 offer or attempt to offer, either directly or indirectly, any bribe or other reward
whatsoever to a Member, Subordinate, any other club official, Player, referee or any
other footballing body or individual with a view to influencing the result, progress,
conduct or any other aspect of any match, or to accept any such bribe
or other reward;
24.1.5(A) whilst participating in a match, whether as a Player or match official, for any person
(for reward) to fail to perform their duties or responsibilities to the best of their ability
during the match;
24.1.5(B) fail to report to the Association immediately any approach from any person,
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 11
organisation or other third party in respect of activities reasonably thought to be
aimed at influencing the course and/or result of a match or competition in an
unlawful or undue manner;
24.1.5(C) fail to report to the Association immediately any information or behaviour involving
any person, organisation or third party in respect of activities reasonably thought to
be aimed at influencing the course and/or result of a match or competition in an
unlawful or undue manner;
24.1.6 allow a director, official, referee, assistant referee or Player under suspension to act
as a referee or to perform any duties from the execution of which that person has
been suspended, or fail to take all reasonable precautions to prevent such person
from entering the ground of any club;
24.1.7 sell or offer for sale, either directly or indirectly, a ticket for any football match in
excess of the face value of the ticket;
24.1.8 play a match with or against a club whose ground has been closed by the
Association or the FAW on any ground within a radius of twelve (12) miles of the
ground closed unless such match is an away fixture for the club whose ground has
been so closed and is played at the ground of the home team which is within a
radius of twelve (12) miles of the closed ground;
24.1.9 commit any act or make any statement either verbally or in writing (including,
without limitation, any racial or other discriminatory behaviour, conduct or language
or comments made on social media), or be responsible for conduct, continuing
misconduct or any other matter likely to bring the game of Association Football or
the Association into disrepute including, without limitation, any incident on or around
the field of play (including the changing room area) that occurs before, during or
after a match;
24.1.10 receive a caution or conviction for any of the offences listed in Schedule 4 Criminal
Justice and Court Services Act 2000, its revisions and amendments; or received
any caution or conviction for any offences listed in the Sexual Offences Act 2003, its
revisions and amendments; or received any caution or conviction for any of the
offences listed in Schedule 1 Children and Young Persons Act 1933, its revisions
and amendments; or is identified as a person presenting a risk or potential risk to
children; or receive any caution or conviction for any offence against a vulnerable
adult; or breach the FAW’s Welfare Policies and Procedures and Regulations, or
any code of conduct and ethics established under any of them;
24.1.11 fail to conduct themselves in an orderly fashion or fail to refrain from violence,
threatening, abusive, obscene or provocative behaviour, conduct or language whilst
attending or taking part in a match including, without limitation, any racial or other
discriminatory behaviour, conduct or language;
24.1.12 encroach on the pitch area, save for authorised persons or for reasons of
crowd safety;
24.1.13 whilst attending a match (a) bring into the ground any firework, flare, smoke bomb
or other pyrotechnic device or (b) ignite or otherwise set-off any firework, flare,
smoke bomb or other pyrotechnic device or (c) throw any firework, flare, smoke
bomb, other pyrotechnic device, missile, bottle or other potentially harmful or
dangerous object (including, without limitation, at or on to the pitch or at any person
on the pitch or elsewhere in the ground);
24.1.14 fail to ensure that a private way is provided for players and officials from the playing
ground to the dressing room whenever this is practicable at every ground within the
jurisdiction of that Member;
24.1.15 use or provide others with information which is not publically available and which is
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 12
obtained through the Councillor’s, Member’s or Subordinate’s position in football
and which damages, or could damage, the integrity of a match or competition.
24.2 Every Member will be responsible for the actions of its Subordinates and the Member will also
be in breach of any Rule or any Regulation, if that Rule or Regulation is breached by its
Subordinate.
25. The Disciplinary Panel will hear the following matters:-
25.1 any charge of an alleged Disciplinary Offence brought by the Association against any
Councillor, Member or any Subordinate. The Association and the said Councillor, Member or
Subordinate will be the relevant “Party” or “Parties” to the proceedings for the purpose of this
section of the Rules;
25.2 any appeal by a Subordinate or other third party against a decision of a Member, where the
said decision was a decision by the Member in the first instance. The Member and the
Subordinate or other third party will be the “Party” or “Parties” to the proceedings for the
purpose of this section of the Rules;
25.3 any appeal by a Subordinate or other third party against a decision of a Member, where the
said decision was a decision by the Member acting as an appellant body in hearing an appeal
against a decision of a Subordinate. The Subordinate or other third party will be the relevant
“Party” or “Parties” to the proceedings for the purpose of this section of the Rules;
25.4 any dispute or difference between two or more Members (not being an appeal covered by
Rule 25.2) which one or more of the said Members refers to the Association for resolution.
The said Members will be the relevant “Party” or “Parties” to the proceedings for the purpose
of this section of the Rules; and
25.5 any disputes or differences between a Member and any Subordinate or other third party (not
being covered by Rules 25.2 or 25.3) which one or more of the Member or the Subordinate or
other third party refers to the Association for resolution. The Member of the Association and
the Subordinate or other third party will be the relevant “Party” or “Parties” to the proceedings
for the purpose of this section of the Rules.
26. The composition of the Disciplinary Panel will be as follows:-
26.1 only the Councillors as defined in these Rules will sit on the Disciplinary Panel. Each
Disciplinary Panel will consist of three (3) members, including one from a list of four (4) chairmen
designate nominated by the Council from time to time. On a case by case basis, the General
Secretary or the Discipline Secretary will appoint the Disciplinary Panel chairman from the said list of
chairmen designate and the other two (2) members of the Disciplinary Panel;
27. No Member or Subordinate shall commence disciplinary proceedings under its own rules or
regulations against a person, club or other entity which is under the jurisdiction of the Member or
Subordinate, if (in respect of the relevant facts, circumstances or event) the Association has
commenced, or indicated to the Member or Subordinate its intention to commence, disciplinary
proceedings under these Rules against the person, club or other entity.
COMMENCEMENT OF PROCEEDINGS BEFORE A PANEL – NOTICES, FEES AND PROCEDURE
28. The following will apply if a Party wishes to refer a matter to the Disciplinary Panel:-
28.1 Where the Association brings a charge of an alleged Disciplinary Offence under Rule 25.1:-
28.1.1 the Association will give a Disciplinary Notice to the other Party;
28.1.2 the Party charged will have seven (7) Business Days after service of the
Disciplinary Notice to reply stipulating whether (a) they admit or deny the charge
and (b) whether they wish to waive their right to a private hearing before the
Disciplinary Panel. If the charge is denied, the reply must state the grounds of
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 13
denial and the Party charged will not be permitted to raise any other grounds of
denial without the leave of the chairman of the Disciplinary Panel;
28.1.3 if the Party charged fails to reply to the Disciplinary Notice within seven (7)
Business Days, they will be deemed to have denied the charge and to have waived
their right to a private hearing before the Disciplinary Panel. In such circumstances
the Association will, without further notice to the Party charged, convene a
Disciplinary Panel who will consider the alleged Disciplinary Offence in the absence
of the Party charged and the provisions of Rules 28.1.4 to 28.1.11 inclusive shall
not apply;
28.1.4 if the Party charged has replied to the Disciplinary Notice and requested a private
hearing the Association will give the Party charged no less than seven (7) Business
Days written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing and the provisions of
Rules 28.1.5 to 28.1.11 inclusive shall apply;
28.1.5 where the Party charged is an individual person, they will be required to attend the
hearing in person. Where the Party charged is not an individual person, one or
more duly authorised senior representatives of the Party will attend the hearing,
whether directors, officers or otherwise;
28.1.6 the Association and the Party charged will disclose to each other such documents
as they intend to produce in evidence at the hearing. Whenever reasonably
possible, the parties will make such disclosures no less than forty-eight (48) hours
prior to the hearing;
28.1.7 the Association and the Party charged will be entitled to make opening and closing
remarks at the hearing and to call witnesses who will be expected to answer
questions in cross-examination. Members of the Disciplinary Panel will be
entitled to ask questions of any witness during the hearing. The Party charged will
not be obliged to give evidence in person but the Disciplinary Panel will be entitled
to draw such inference as may be reasonably appropriate if the Party charged
declines to do so. The chairman of the Disciplinary Panel will warn the Party
charged of this fact;
28.1.8 the Disciplinary Panel hearing will proceed in the absence of the Party charged,
unless the Disciplinary Panel reasonably considers that the Party charged has
given an acceptable reason for such non-attendance, in which case the hearing will
be adjourned;
28.1.9 the Disciplinary Panel will retire to consider its findings in private. A decision may be
announced on the day or reserved to a later date, in which case, the decision will
be delivered in writing;
28.1.10 if the Disciplinary Panel finds the Party charged guilty of the Disciplinary Offence at
a Disciplinary Panel hearing attended by the Party charged, no penalty or sanction
will be imposed until:-
28.1.10.1 the Disciplinary Panel has been informed by the Association of any
previous Disciplinary Offences recorded against the guilty Party; and
28.1.10.2 the guilty Party has been given the opportunity to make representations
in mitigation of the Disciplinary Offence;
28.1.11 the Association and the Party charged shall be entitled to legal or other
representation at the Disciplinary Panel hearing;
28.1.12 where the Party charged has waived the right to a private hearing or is deemed to
have waived such right, or where the Party charged does not attend the private
hearing, the Disciplinary Panel will consider such information as it considers
reasonably necessary to decide the matter including, without limitation, any written
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 14
representations made for or on behalf of the Party charged and representations
(whether written or verbal) made for or on behalf of the Association. The Disciplinary
Panel will be entitled to seek such further information or evidence as it deems
necessary. If the Disciplinary Panel finds the Party charged guilty of the Disciplinary
Offence, the Association will inform the Disciplinary Panel of any other Disciplinary
Offences recorded against the guilty Party but the Disciplinary Panel will not be
obliged to invite the guilty Party to make further representations in mitigation of the
Disciplinary Offence before imposing a penalty;
28.1.13 whether or not the hearing takes place, the Disciplinary Panel will have absolute
discretion whether to make a cost order for or against the Party charged; and
28.1.14 whether or not a hearing takes place, the Association will send written confirmation
of the Disciplinary Panel’s findings to the Party charged.
28.2 In the case of any other proceedings pursuant to Rule 25 under the jurisdiction of the
Disciplinary Panel:-
28.2.1 the Party wishing to commence the proceedings will give a Request Notice to the
Association (marked for the attention of the General Secretary of the Association)
and the other Party or Parties;
28.2.2 in an appeal under Rules 25.2 and 25.3 against a decision of a Member, the
Request Notice will be served on the Association not more than seven (7) Business
Days after the earlier of (a) the Member announcing its decision at the time of its
hearing (if any) or (b) receipt by the Party appealing of written notification of the
Member’s decision. For the purposes of (b) above, the provisions of the Football
Association of Wales Rule 144 (as to the services or notices etc) shall apply to the
said written notification issued by the Member. Any Request Notice lodged after
seven (7) Business Days will be rejected unless the Party lodging the same can
demonstrate to the reasonable satisfaction of the Association that it was not
reasonably practicable to lodge the Request Notice within the time limit;
28.2.3 the following appropriate Request Fee must accompany the Request Notice:-
28.2.3.1 £50.00 in all cases;
28.2.4 any Request Notice which is not accompanied by the appropriate Request Fee will
be rejected by the Association and any incorrect fee will be returned and, in the
case of an appeal under Rules 25.2 or 25.3, time will continue to run for the service
of the Request Notice within the original seven (7) Business Days period stipulated
in Rule 28.2.2;
28.2.5 the Association will within twenty (20) Business Days of actual receipt of the
Request Notice send a written notice to the Parties confirming the date, time and
place of the Disciplinary Panel hearing. In the case of an appeal under Rules 25.2
or 25.3, the Disciplinary Panel proceedings will be a re-hearing of the case and the
Disciplinary Panel will decide the matter on the basis of the evidence produced to
them. At any time prior to the Disciplinary Panel hearing, any Party will have the
right to waive their right to a private hearing but a hearing will take place unless all
Parties agree in writing to waive their right to a private hearing;
28.2.6 where the Party involved is an individual person, they will be required to attend a
hearing in person. Where the Party involved is not an individual person, one or
more duly authorised senior representatives of the Party will attend the hearing,
whether directors, officers or otherwise;
28.2.7 the Parties involved will disclose to each other and to the Association such
documents as they intend to produce in evidence at the hearing. Whenever
reasonably possible the Parties will make such disclosures no less than forty-eight
(48) hours prior to the hearing;
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 15
28.2.8 the Parties will be entitled to make opening and closing remarks at the hearing and
to call witnesses who will be expected to answer questions in cross examination.
Members of the Disciplinary Panel will be entitled to ask questions of any witnesses
during the hearing. No Party will be obliged to give evidence in person but the
Disciplinary Panel will be entitled to draw such inference as may be reasonably
appropriate if the Party declines to do so. The chairman of the Disciplinary Panel
will warn the Party concerned of this fact;
28.2.9 the Disciplinary Panel hearing will proceed in the absence of either Party, unless the
Disciplinary Panel reasonably considers that the absent Party has given an
acceptable reason for such non-attendance, in which case the hearing will be
adjourned;
28.2.10 the Disciplinary Panel will retire to consider its findings in private. A decision may be
announced on the day or reserved to a later date in which case the decision will be
delivered in writing;
28.2.11 the Parties will be entitled to legal or other representation at the Disciplinary
Panel hearing;
28.2.12 where the Parties to the appeal have all waived their rights to a private hearing, the
Disciplinary Panel will consider such information as it considers reasonably
necessary to decide the matter including, without limitation, any written
representations made for or on behalf of the Parties. The Disciplinary Panel will be
entitled to seek such further information or evidence as it deems necessary;
28.2.13 whether or not a hearing takes place, the Disciplinary Panel will have absolute
discretion whether to make a cost order for or against a Party to the proceeding;
and
28.2.14 whether or not a hearing takes place, the Association will send written confirmation
of the Disciplinary Panel’s findings to the Parties.
29. A Party has a right of appeal to the Football Association of Wales against a decision or any part of a
decision of a Disciplinary Panel made under any part of Rule 25, except that the Association will only
have the right to appeal against the penalty or sanction imposed by the Disciplinary Panel made
under Rule 25.1 and not against a finding of not guilty.
30. The Party wishing to commence proceedings will give a Request Notice to the Football Association
of Wales and the other Party or Parties. The Request Notice must be served on the Football
Association of Wales not more than seven (7) Business Days after the earlier of (a) the decision
being announced at the time of the hearing or (b) receipt by the Party appealing of the written
notification of the decision. A Request Notice must be accompanied with the appropriate fee (made
payable to the FAW) and be addressed to the Chief Executive Officer at The Football Association of
Wales, 11/12 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ. A Business Day is any day of the
week except a Saturday or Sunday or public bank holiday in Wales.
PENALTIES AND OTHER POWERS
31. Where:-
31.1 under any provision of Rule 25.1 the Disciplinary Panel finds the Party charged guilty of a
Disciplinary Offence, the Disciplinary Panel shall apply the following penalties against the
Party charged (or two or more concurrently):-
31.1.1 suspension from, or any involvement in Association Football either permanently or
for an indefinite period or for a specific and stated period in accordance with the
Football Association of Wales’ Categories of Suspension Regulations;
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 16
31.1.2 a fine;
31.1.3 a censure;
31.1.4 the closure of a football ground either permanently or for an indefinite
period or for a specific and stated period;
31.1.5 the guilty Party, if a club, to forfeit points awarded in one or more competitions;
31.1.6 the guilty Party, if a club, to be disqualified from playing in one or more
competitions;
31.1.7 such other penalty as the Disciplinary Panel shall reasonably deem fit including,
without limitation, a written undertaking from the guilty Party as to their
future conduct;
31.1.8 the guilty Party, if a club, to make such publication in its match day programme,
website or other publication medium as the Disciplinary Panel may direct; or
31.1.9 a transfer embargo preventing the guilty Party, if a club, from signing new Players
during such period as the Association shall stipulate.
31.2 under Rules 25.2 or 25.3 the Disciplinary Panel hears an appeal by a Subordinate or other
third party against a decision of a Member, the Disciplinary Panel will have the power to grant
or deny the appeal (in whole or in part) and the power to increase or decrease the penalty or
sanction (if any) imposed by the Member or substitute such other penalty or sanction as the
Disciplinary Panel shall deem fit; and
31.3 in the case of any other proceedings under the jurisdiction of the Disciplinary Panel pursuant
to Rules 25.4 or 25.5, the Disciplinary Panel will have the power to make such order or ruling
as it deems reasonable to resolve the dispute or difference.
32. If a Party is in default for twenty-one (21) calendar days in failing to pay or carry out any penalty,
sanction, order or ruling made by the Disciplinary Panel, (a) the Party will automatically be
suspended from all Association Football related activity under the jurisdiction of the West Wales FA
as defined in the Football Association of Wales’ Categories of Suspension Regulations, which for the
purpose of this Rule 32 shall be read as applying to any person or other legal entity, until the penalty,
sanction, order or ruling has been paid or complied with in full and (b) the Association shall have the
right to refer the non-compliance back to the Disciplinary Panel which made the relevant decision
and that Panel shall have the power to impose further penalties, sanctions, orders or rulings as a
result of a non-compliance. It is the responsibility of the club, to which the player or official is
associated, to pay a fine and/or other financial penalty imposed by a Disciplinary Panel on the player
or official.
MISCELLANEOUS
33. The law governing the proceedings before the Disciplinary Panel shall be the law of England and
Wales. The standard of proof applied shall be the balance of probabilities, except that under Rule
24.1.5 the standard of proof applied shall be whether the Disciplinary Offence has been established
to the comfortable satisfaction of the Disciplinary Panel.
34. The rules of service set out in the Football Association of Wales Rule 144 shall apply to all notices
and any other communications whatsoever sent in connection with the proceedings of a
Disciplinary Panel.
35. These Rules are sufficient to enable the Association, Members and Subordinates to resolve all
Disciplinary Offences and disputes or differences. The Parties must exhaust all procedures and
processes of appeal in these Rules and the FAW Rules before taking legal proceedings in a court of
law and then only as a last resort.
36. Notwithstanding any rule or regulation (in whatever form) of any Member or Subordinate to the
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 17
contrary, it shall be a condition of the Association sanctioning any competition organised by the
Member or any Subordinate that any appellant may lodge an appeal with the Disciplinary Panel
(under Rules 25.2 or 25.3) against any decision of the Member or a Subordinate.
37. Subject to an appeal lodged with the FAW by any of the Parties, any decision of the Disciplinary
Panel shall be a decision of the Association and all Members will comply with the same and will
ensure that all Subordinates comply with the same.
38. The Association shall be permitted (but not obliged) to publish summaries of the decisions of its
Disciplinary Panel in whatever form and forum it considers appropriate from time to time.
REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER OF PLAYERS
39. The registration and transfer of players shall be in accordance with the current Rules (Section H) and
Regulations of the Football Association of Wales (as amended from time to time).
LEAGUES AND COMPETITIONS
40. Save in respect of practice matches, all leagues or competitions of any description and at any level
(including, without limitation, a charity or benefit league or competition) must be sanctioned by the
FAW.
41. The sanction for each league or competition must be renewed annually by the FAW.
42. Subject to Rule 45, no league or competition will be sanctioned by the FAW unless each team taking
part in such league or competition fields a side consisting of eleven (11) players, from which number
there shall be no deviation, unless it be occasioned through injury or some such other and proper
cause during the course of any game in such league or competition.
43. Application for sanction of a league or competition shall be made, and thereafter renewed annually,
with the FAW on or before 20th July immediately preceding the Playing Season during which Playing
Season the league or competition is intended to be played. Such application must be made in every
case on a form prescribed by the FAW from time to time. All such forms shall be supplied only by
this Association. Every such application must be accompanied by two written copies of the rules of
the league or competition concerned. Every such application must also be accompanied by a written
list of the names of all the clubs which have consented to join and take part in the league or
competition. All such leagues or competitions shall observe the Rules and Regulations of the FAW.
All matches shall be played in accordance with the Laws of the Game.
44. All applications for sanction under Rule 40 shall be made direct to the FAW. All other applications for
annual renewal of the sanction under Rule 41 shall, in the first instance, be lodged with the
Association. The Association will vet the application for renewal, and the supporting documents
referred to in Rule 43, and will forward the application to the FAW with its recommendation for
acceptance or rejection but the final decision on the application will rest solely with the FAW.
45. Notwithstanding anything contained in Rule 42 or in any other Rule, the FAW may give permission
for small-sided leagues or competitions (including, without limitation, futsal) to be played,
provided that:-
45.1 the league or competition has been sanctioned by the FAW in accordance with the
requirements of Rules 42 or 43. Clubs seeking affiliation to this Association in order to
participate in a small side league or competition must pay the Association an affiliation fee;
45.2 in the case of single matches, and one-day competitions (e.g. garden fetes or work’s sports’
days), they must be sanctioned by the FAW in accordance with the requirements of Rule 40;
45.3 the rules governing the eligibility and conduct of the players in the sanctioned match or
competition shall be administered by the management committee of the sanctioned game or
competition subject always to the authority of the Association and shall be in conformity with
the FAW Rules and Regulations;
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 18
45.4 the playing of non-sanctioned matches arranged by private individuals for speculative
purposes shall not be permitted;
45.5 for small side leagues or competitions played for charitable objectives a statement of accounts
of the event shall be supplied to the Association (and other Area Association(s) if the league or
competition falls within the geographical area of more than one Area Association) within
twenty-one days (21) of the last match in the event; and
45.6 the laws applicable to the playing of small-side games shall be as set by the FAW from
time to time.
46. No Subordinate or club under the jurisdiction of the Association, nor player, nor referee or any other
body or individual in any way within the jurisdiction of this Association, shall play in or take part in
any league or competition (including, without limitation, charity or benefit league or competition)
within the boundaries of Wales unless such league or competition has been sanctioned by the FAW.
47. No Subordinate or club under the jurisdiction of the Association, nor player, nor referee or any other
body or individual in any way within the jurisdiction of this Association, shall play, or take part in any
league or competition (including, without limitation, charity or benefit league or competition) outside
the boundaries of Wales unless such participation shall have first been sanctioned by the FAW. The
application for such sanction shall be made, and renewed annually, in writing to the FAW’s Chief
Executive Officer on or before 30th April immediately preceding the Playing Season in which the said
applicant wishes to participate in the said league or competition. Such application must be made in
every case on a form prescribed by the FAW’s Chief Executive Officer from time to time. All such
forms shall be supplied only by the FAW’s Chief Executive Officer and may not be obtained from any
other source.
48. Any league or competition of whatever kind within the jurisdiction of this Association shall only be
played within a geographical area approved and sanctioned by the FAW.
49. Any club which is within the jurisdiction of the FAW and which has received sanction from the FAW
to compete in a league or competition outside the boundaries of Wales, shall carry out in full its
obligations to those Welsh Association Football competitions of which it may be expected reasonably
to take part, as defined by the FAW from time to time.
50. The name of any sponsor or the donor of a cup or trophy or any other person may form part of the
title of a league or competition subject to the prior written approval of the FAW.
51. Restricted advertising will be permitted on the shirts, shorts and stockings worn by Players subject to
the prior written approval of the FAW. The depth of the lettering in connection with such advertising
shall not exceed 200cm2. A motif not exceeding 20cm2 of the manufacturer of the clothing may also
be worn, subject to the prior written approval of the FAW. The emblem of the club, Association or
other football body may be worn on the shirt. The advertising of tobacco, strong alcoholic beverages,
as well as slogans of a political, religious or racial nature, or for other causes that offend common
decency, are prohibited.
52. Subject to Rule 53 and subject to any special sanction granted by the FAW, no league or competition
which has been played during the Playing Season shall be allowed extended time outside the
Playing Season to play all matches in the league or competition, including, without limitation, any
league or competition played for charitable purposes. The FAW may specially sanction a match to be
played after the end of the Playing Season if the match is arranged between two distinct clubs, or
leagues, or Area Associations or between any two of them. In granting any such sanction, the FAW
shall be entitled to stipulate to whom the whole or any part of the income generated from any such
match is to be paid including, without limitation, payment to a registered charity nominated by
the FAW.
53. Notwithstanding anything contained in the FAW Rules:-
53.1 semi-final or final matches of cup competitions of the FAW or this Association may be played
not later than Saturday or Sunday following the end of the Playing Season in any year;
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 19
53.2 small sided leagues or competitions as specified in Rule 45 may be played at any time,
including outside the Playing Season; and
53.3 matches may be played for charity, or some other object approved by the FAW, not later than
the Saturday or Sunday following the end of the Playing Season and application for
permission to play any such match must be made in writing and be forwarded to the FAW’s
Chief Executive Officer not later than the 1st April in the year concerned.
PRACTICE MATCHES
54. Practice matches between teams of the same club or between teams from different clubs may be
played with the sanction of the FAW or this Association, as applicable, during the twenty-eight (28)
calendar days immediately preceding the start of the playing season but any club scheduled to play
a match in a UEFA club competition prior to the start of the playing season may play any such
practice match during the twenty-eight (28) calendar days immediately preceding the club’s first
match in that UEFA competition. Where the proposed practice match to be played outside of Wales
involves a club of the Association, the application for sanction shall, in the first instance, be lodged
with this Association and in such cases the Association will vet the application and will forward the
application to the FAW with its recommendation for acceptance or rejection but the final decision on
the application will rest solely with the FAW. All other applications for sanctioning practice matches
shall be made to the Association.
55. The net receipts from a sanctioned practice match must be distributed before 15th September in
each Playing Season as follows:-
55.1 not less than 25% to the Area Association to which the club or clubs are affiliated and the
balance shall be used or distributed in any such manner as the club or clubs shall decide.
When English and Welsh clubs play each other in public practice matches, the 25% of the net
receipts referred to shall be equally divided, 121⁄2% being given to the English County
Football Association concerned and the other 121⁄2% to the relevant Area Association. When
clubs from two (2) Area Associations play each other in practice matches, the 25% of the net
receipts referred to shall be equally divided between the two (2) Area Associations; and
55.2 the net receipts of each match shall be calculated by deducting from the match receipts the
essential ground and travelling expenses concerned with the match which shall not in any
case exceed 20% of the gross receipts. A return of the monies received, the expenses, and
sums paid together with the necessary receipts must be sent to the FAW or the Area
Association or Area Associations from whom sanction to play the match was obtained, and
each such Area Association shall by 30th September make a complete return to the FAW of
the practice matches played and the monies distributed.
56. Practice matches between teams of different clubs must be advertised as public practice matches
and must be open to the public on payment.
57. Players who have not been engaged by a club for the following season may play in
practice matches.
58. The sanction referred to in Rule 54 shall not be necessary in the case of a private practice match
between teams of the same club at which the public is not admitted and where no charge is made
for or in lieu of admission either directly or indirectly.
REFEREES
59. On the field of play, any decision by the referee in charge of any match on questions of fact or the
interpretation of the Laws of the Game shall be final and conclusive. The Association’s Disciplinary
Procedures Concerning Field Offences Regulations shall stipulate the penalties automatically
imposed on Players in consequence of any offence committed during a match, as reported by the
referee of that match. The said Regulations shall also specify any rights of appeal which may be
permitted by the Association from time to time against any such automatically imposed penalty. In
addition, the Association shall always have the right to bring a charge of misconduct against a Player
where it receives evidence of misconduct during a match where the referee of the match confirms to
Hand-Rulebook 2017-18:Hand-Rulebook 08-09 07/09/2017 07:03 Page 20
the Association that he/she did not witness the said event.
60. When a referee is appointed for any match by the FAW, this Association or the organisers of a
competition sanctioned by the FAW, the referee shall inform such appointing body in writing within
three (3) days of receipt by him/her of the notice of appointment concerned whether he/she accepts
or declines the appointment. Any referee failing to accept or decline such an appointment in
accordance with the provisions of this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £53 for each such offence.
Having accepted an appointment to referee a match, the referee shall not cancel such engagement
in order to officiate in some other match.
61. It shall be a breach of these Rules, if any referee fails to report any instance of misconduct during or
relating to a match which comes to his/her notice, and if it is proved to the satisfaction of the
Association that such instance of misconduct was of a nature that required reporting.
62. No referee may take any part in the management of any league or other competition of whatever
kind if he/she officiates as a referee within the jurisdiction of such league or competition.
63. The promotion and demotion of referees and assistant referees to and from leagues under the
jurisdiction of the Association shall be at the discretion of the Association.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
64. At any meeting held by the Council or any sub-committee of the Council to discuss a matter relating
to any club or league, Councillors having an interest in such club or league shall declare the nature
and extent of that interest to the other Councillors and shall:-
64.1 not be counted in the quorum present at the meeting to consider the matter;
64.2 have no vote on such matter; and
64.3 leave the room and take no further part in the discussion on such matter.
65. The provisions of Rule 64 shall not apply to a conflict of interest which arises solely because the
Councillor is appointed, nominated or elected a Councillor as the representative of any league.
66. At any meeting held by the Council or any sub-committee of the Council at which a declaration of
interest under Rule 64 is made, the other Councillors at that meeting may direct that the provisions
of Rule 64 be suspended or relaxed in respect of that specific matter for any Councillor who has
made the necessary declaration of a conflict of interest.