DISCIPLINE

 Assault
 

 MEMORANDUM OF PROCEDURES
 
9. Assaults on Match Officials
 
The following Regulations shall apply at all levels of the game (excluding the 6 designated Leagues):
 
9.1 In addition to assisting a match official who has reported an assault against him, The Football Association or appropriate Association shall without delay investigate the match official’s report and if, after such investigation, the chairman and secretary of the Association or their nominees are satisfied that a prima facie case can be made out against the alleged offender they shall take such steps as are necessary to ensure that a charge is preferred and that a Disciplinary Commission meets to consider the charge within 28 days of the date of the charge letter. The alleged offender shall not participate in any football activity from the date when he is notified of the charge, until a Disciplinary Commission has heard and adjudicated on the matter.
 
9.2 There shall be three categories of assaults:
 
(a) COMMON ASSAULT
(b) ASSAULT CAUSING BODILY HARM
(c) ASSAULT CAUSING SERIOUS BODILY HARM
 
9.3 All assaults on match officials in the above three categories must be reported tc The Football Association within 14 days of the completion of a case that has been proved, giving the decision of the Commission together with any reason for variation of the recommended punishments set out in 4 below. (If a match official who has reported a participant for an assault upon his person makes a request for the decision and punishment awarded such must be made available to him at the earliest opportunity).
 
9.4
Recommended punishments for a person found guilty of an assault upon a match official are follows and cover football at all levels of the game:
(a) (i)  Common Assault 182 days suspension plus £150 fine
  (ii) Common assault by way of spitting at or on a match official 1 year suspension plus £150 fine
(b) Assault causing or attempting to cause bodily harm Sine die suspension with no review to be considered under a period of 5 years plus £250 fine
(c) Assault causing serious bodily harm Permanent suspension (see Section 1.9)
 
10. Assaults by Participants on other Participants
 
10.1 When a referee’s report indicates that a Participant has perpetrated an assault on another Participant causing serious bodily harm before, during or after a match, The Football Association or appropriate Affiliated Association may, as in oases of assaults on match officials, without delay investigate the official’s report. If after such investigation, the chairman and secretary of the Association, or their nominees, are satisfied that a prima facie case can be made out against the alleged offender, such steps shall be taken as are necessary to ensure that a charge is preferred and that a Disciplinary Commission meets to consider the charge within 28 days of the date of the charge letter. The alleged offender shall not participate in any football activity from the date when he is notified of the charge until a Disciplinary Commission has heard and adjudicated on the matter.
 
10.2
The recommended punishments for such otfenoes are set out below:-
(a) Player A suspension for a minimum of 140 days plus £150 fine for a first offence but, depending on severity, sine die with no review for 5 years.
(b) Club Official As for (a) above but:
(i) If on a player or other official but not a match official; suspension from all football and football activities
(ii) If on a Match Official —section 9 above will apply.
(c) Match Official As for Match Officials assaulted by a Player. But a recommendation will be made to the relevant Referees’ Committee that the registration be removed and no request for reinstatement will be allowed until the suspension has been completed or removed.