CLUB DISCIPLINARY SANCTIONS

Suspensions

These are club suspensions on top of which AFA suspensions will be added (AFA suspensions can be carried over into following seasons depending on date of offence). A club hearing is likely to result in a disciplinary sanction being imposed. There is no appeal procedure and all suspensions will be served.

Introduced by the FA, new from this season is the conversion from time based suspensions to match based suspensions, which means when a player receives a suspension from the AFA, it will generally be for a set number of games rather than for a range of dates (as per previous seasons). The exception to this will be for cases of misconduct where a time based suspension could also apply. Suspensions will automatically apply from 21 days after the date of the offence. One important change to the disciplinary code is the right of appeal. Standard red card offences can only be appealed on the grounds of mistaken identity or supported by Video Technology evidence (in line with the professional game). You may still appeal a misconduct charge (such as failing to leave pitch after being sent off), however the standard conduct charge cannot be contested. So in short, there is no right of appeal, unless by some miracle we happen to have a cameraman filming the match!

Fines

All players are required to pay any fines they accrue. Out of respect for the other members of the club, you are all treated fairly and are expected to pay in full. If you don’t pay, you can’t play.

Hospitality and Respect

Merton Football aims to enhance its status as a hospitable and friendly club and as such all players are expected to go into the bar after games and socialise with your team mates, the opposition and the referee. This helps engender team spirit, which is developed as much off the pitch as it is on it. In particular, every player has a responsibility to make new players feel welcome to the Club. A meal is provided to home and away teams after league and cup games. All players need to be mindful that most pitches that we play on are situated within public areas and therefore we must ensure that we keep dissent and swearing to an absolute minimum so as to not offend passers-by. We must also ensure that we show respect to the other occupants / neighbours of the playing area / club house, such as the local Bowls Club, Council staff and the houses on the perimeter of the pitches.