Midland Football Combination Rules 2007/2008
STANDARDISED RULES
FOR PREMIER DIVISION TEAMS ONLY
These Rules have been compiled by the Sanction and Registrations Committee of The Football Association in conjunction with the Members of the Standardisation of League Rules Working Group for the mandatory use of all sanctioned Competitions at Steps 1 to 6 inclusive of the National League System.
1. DEFINITIONS
1.1 In these Rules:
“Affiliated Association” means an Association accorded the status of an affiliated Association under the Rules of The FA
“Appointing Authority” means The Football Association.
“Articles” means the Articles of Association of the Company
“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company appointed in accordance with the Articles or, in the case of a Competition, which is an unincorporated association, the management committee elected to manage the running of the Competition
“Club” means a Club for the time being in membership of the Company (including a Club which has had a transfer of membership approved under Rule 2.7 below).
“Company” means The Midland Football Combination, which administers the Competition and shall, where the Competition is an unincorporated entity, include that entity
“Competition” means the Midland Football Combination
“Competition Match” means any match played or to be played under the jurisdiction of the Company
“Competition Secretary” means such person or persons appointed or elected to carry out the administration of the Competition
“Criteria Document” means the document entitled “National Ground Grading Document” issued by The FA from time to time and shall, unless stated to the contrary, mean the latest edition of the document
“Fees Tariff” means a list of fees approved by the Company at a general meeting to be levied by the Company for any matters for which fees are payable under the Rules
“Fines Tariff” means a list of fines approved by the Company at a general meeting to be levied by the Company for any breach of the Rules
“Fit and Proper Declaration” means a declaration to The FA required from an Officer from time to time
“Football Creditor" means any one of the following:
· The Football Association Limited
· Any Club affiliated with an Affiliated Association
· Any League sanctioned by The Association or an Affiliated Association
· Any full time or part time employee of a Club, or former full time or part time employee of a Club, in respect of sums due to such person by way of arrears of remuneration or expenses. This excludes for these purposes all and any claims for redundancy, unfair or wrongful dismissal or other claims arising out of the termination of the contract or in respect of any period after the actual date of termination
· The Professional Footballers’ Association Limited
· The Football Foundation
· Any Affiliated Association
· Any pension scheme or plan administered by or on behalf of the Competition
“Insolvency Event” means any one of the following:
“Match Officials” means the referee, the assistant referees and any fourth official appointed to a Competition Match
“Officer” means an individual who is required to make a Fit and Proper Declaration by The FA
“Players’ Agent” means a person who, for reward, represents, negotiates on behalf of, advises or otherwise acts for a Principal in the context of either the transfer of a player’s registration, the terms of a contract between a player and a Club or the terms of a contract between a manager and a Club.
“Playing Season” means the period between the date on which the first league fixture in the Competition is played each year until the date on which the last league fixture in the Competition is played. For Clubs participating in play off matches this does include the period when play off matches are played
“Play Off Position” means the position of a Club in the table at the end of each Playing Season, which is provided for in Rule 13 as qualifying the Club to take part in a play off match to qualify for promotion to the next step of football for the next Playing Season
“Principal” means a Club, a manager, an official of a Club, or a player employing an Agent for one of the purposes set out in the definition of Agent above
“Rules” means these rules under which the Competition is administered
“SSAP” means a sporting sanctions appeal panel to be appointed to determine an appeal against a deduction of points under Rule 14
“The FA” means The Football Association Limited
“Writing” means a communication sent by post, facsimile or email (where the intended recipient has provided an email address to the Company)
1.2 Words or expressions used in these Rules shall, if not inconsistent with the subject or context, bear the same meanings as in the Articles
1.3 All Clubs shall adhere to the Rules. Every Club shall be deemed, as a member of the Company to have accepted the Rules and to have agreed to abide by the decisions of the Board in relation thereto, subject to the provisions of Rule 17.
1.4 The Competition will be known as “The Midland Football Combination ” (or such other name as the Company may adopt). The Clubs participating in the Competition must be members of the Company. A Club which ceases to exist, or which ceases to be entitled to play in the Competition for any reason whatsoever shall thereupon automatically cease to be a member of the Company.
1.5 The administration of the Competition under these Rules will be carried out by the Company acting (save where otherwise specifically mentioned herein) through the Board in accordance with the Rules Regulations and Practices of The FA.
1.6 The Company shall be part of the National League Structure established by The FA and shall sign such documents as are required from time to time to confirm such membership
2. MEMBERSHIP REQUIREMENTS
2.1 All Clubs shall have grounds or headquarters situated in England or Wales and the Competition Secretary shall send their names and particulars to The FA annually by the date appointed by, and in the format required by, The FA. English Clubs shall be duly affiliated at all times to a recognised County Football Association. Welsh Clubs shall be affiliated to The FA of Wales. Each Club shall notify the Competition Secretary of its affiliation number each year as soon as practicable after it has received the same. Each Club shall return to the Competition Secretary a fully completed questionnaire relating to Form “D” required by The FA by the date given in the circular letter accompanying the questionnaire issued by the Competition Secretary.
A Club may share its ground (subject to the provisions of Rule 4.12) with another club (including a club engaged in another sport) providing, in the case of any football club, the club playing in the most senior competition has priority of fixtures and, in the case of any other club, providing the Club has priority of fixtures. In the case of dispute the Company shall have the power to accept an alternative agreement on priority.
2.2 No club that is a “nursery” club of another football club shall be eligible for membership of the Company.
A club shall be deemed to be a “nursery” club if it is under obligation, written or otherwise, to a football club by reason of which it has not the sole and entire control of its own management, finance and players.
2.3 Clubs seeking membership or applying to retain membership of the Company must comply with the requirements provided for in the Criteria Document for the step at which the Club is playing. Only clubs, which meet these criteria in full, will be eligible for membership. All Clubs visited by representatives of the Competition in pursuance of the document will pay a non-returnable fee. In the absence of a procedure for application for membership being established by The FA, the Board shall establish such procedure.
2.4 The FA shall determine a time scale whereby all Clubs in membership must attain the grade provided for in the Criteria Document. The grade applicable for each Club for the commencement of a Playing Season shall be that existing at the previous 1st April, such grading to be ascertained by an inspection carried out on or before 1st April or as soon as practicable thereafter. Any Club not maintaining the grade set for the Competition shall be relegated at the end of the Playing Season to a step determined by The FA.
2.5 Any Club wishing to incorporate shall notify The FA, its Affiliated Association and the Competitions Secretary before it makes any resolutions in this regard.
2.6 In the event that any Club, which is an unincorporated association incorporates itself it shall notify the Competitions Secretary in writing within 14 days of the passing of the resolution to take this action and shall with such notice provide the Competitions Secretary with a copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the company. Any amendments to the Memorandum and Articles of Association of a Club must be notified to the Competition Secretary in writing within 14 days of the passing of the resolution with a copy of the change(s).
2.7 In the event that any Club which is an unincorporated association resolves to transfer its membership of the Competition to a company or in the event that a Club which is a company resolves to transfer its membership to a different company the Board will use the following minimum criteria in deciding whether to approve that transfer:
2.7.1 The shareholders or members of the Club have voted to agree the transfer of the Club’s membership to the new entity
2.7.2 All Football Creditors in the Club must be satisfied in full or transferred (with the creditors’ consent) to the new entity, and evidenced as such.
2.7.3 All other creditors in the Club must be satisfied and evidenced as such.
2.7.4 The proposed new entity has provided financial forecasts showing its ability to fund the Club for the next 12 months or to the end of the Playing Season following transfer (whichever is the longer) and that evidence of funding sources has been provided.
2.7.5 The FA has given approval for the transfer to take place.
2.8 The Competition shall allow for up to 88 member Clubs. There will be 5 divisions of 22 Clubs in each division where possible. The divisions will be called Premier Division, Division 1, Division 2, Division 3 & Reserve Division. The clubs competing in each division each season will be confirmed by the Annual General Meeting of the Competition each year.
2.9 Any Club or Club representative found guilty of serious irregularities regarding players Contract payments under The FA Rules may be expelled from the Company in accordance with these Rules and, in addition, may be fined such sum as the Board shall determine.
2.10 The Company will hold a register of the full name of the company/unincorporated entity constituting each Club. If the Club is an incorporated entity, it must provide the Company with its company registration number. If the Club is an unincorporated entity, it must provide the Company with the name of an individual in whose name the membership of the Company will be vested.
The Company will provide a copy of its membership register to The FA annually.
2.11 In the event that an Insolvency Event occurs in relation to any Club, that Club must inform the Competitions Secretary and The FA immediately.
The Board shall have the power to suspend a Club on notification of it having entered an Insolvency Event.
At the discretion of the Board, a suspension may take effect from the giving of the notice or it may be postponed subject to any conditions as the Board may think fit to impose.
In the event that a Club is suspended or its suspension is postponed, the Board shall have power to make such payments as it may think fit to the Club’s Football Creditors out of any monies due to that club from the Company.
2.12 An Officer must submit a Fit and Proper Declaration to The FA and the Competition within 14 days of becoming an Officer.
No individual will be permitted to act as an Officer if they fail to meet any of the requirements of the Fit and Proper Declaration, as set out in the Rules of The FA.
In the event that an individual/entity is found to have either:
· Completed false or misleading statements on their Fit and Proper Declaration;
· acted as an Officer when in breach of the requirements of the Fit and Proper Declaration;
· Acted as an Officer without having submitted a fully completed Fit and Proper Declaration;
then the individual/entity or Club shall be subject to such fine or other sanction as may be determined by The FA.
2.13 Any club that is incorporated must be incorporated in England and Wales.
2.14 If during the course of a season the Board decide that the organisation and management or finances of a particular Club fall below the standards appropriate to membership of the Competition, the Competition Secretary shall be instructed to warn the Club at once that it may be excluded from membership of the Competition at the end of that playing season. Such a Club shall have the right to appeal to The FA within 14 days of the date of notification of the Board’s decision.
2.15 The Competition, through the Board shall be empowered from time to time by subscription, levy or otherwise to require Clubs to contribute such sum or sums of money to the funds of the League as may be necessary for the proper conduct of the business of the League. Such contributions by Clubs may be collected by deduction from sums due to Clubs under any promotion agreement or from sponsorship money due or by whatever means the Board shall think fit. There shall be added to any sums to be contributed from Clubs, if applicable, Value Added Tax at the then prevailing rate.
2.16 Any Club failing to be represented at an Annual General Meeting or any other General Meeting called in accordance with the Rules without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
2.17 The Board shall establish a procedure for inspecting Clubs’ grounds from time to time as well as a procedure for inspecting the grounds of clubs applying for membership of the Company.
3. MEMBERSHIP – ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION
3.1 Any Club applying for membership of the Company shall submit to the Company a fully completed Competition application form, the application fee and non-refundable ground inspection fee set out in the Fees Tariff.
3.2 Clubs which have qualified for membership of the Company must confirm their acceptance of membership on the appropriate Competition form to be received by the Company at least 14 days prior to the next Annual General Meeting of the Company accompanied where appropriate by the membership fee set out in the Fees Tariff.
The annual subscription set out in the fees tariff shall be paid by each Club to the Company no later than 31st July in each year.
4. POWER OF THE BOARD
4.1 The Board shall have power to deal with all matters of management of the Competition covered by the Rules. The Board shall conduct the business of the Competition and shall meet as often as is necessary for this purpose. The Board may appoint such committees as it deems appropriate which shall be fully empowered to act on the Board’s behalf SUBJECT TO RATIFICATION BY THE BOARD.
4.2 Save where specifically provided otherwise in these Rules, the Board shall have power to apply, act upon and enforce these Rules and shall have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Company or the Competition including any not provided for in these Rules.
4.3 All decisions of the Board shall be binding, subject to a right of appeal to The FA pursuant to Rule 17. Decisions of the Board must be notified, in writing, to all concerned within fourteen days of the making of such decision.
4.4 Any Club or person committing a breach of any Rule shall be liable to the penalties set out in the Fines Tariff, or if not therein set out, such as the Board may decide.
4.5 All fines and charges imposed by the Board shall be received by the Company within twenty-eight days of the date of notification of imposition (unless otherwise ordered). Any Club or person breaking this Rule or defaulting in paying any Football Creditor shall be liable to such penalties as the Board may impose. The Board shall have the power to place an embargo on the registrations of transfers by any Club defaulting in the payment of a transfer or compensation fee to another Club.
4.6 If a Club fails to comply with an order or instruction of the Board within fourteen days of notification of such order or instruction, or within fourteen days of an operative date specified in that order or instruction, it shall not be allowed to play or take part in the business of the Company until the expiry of 7 days from the day the order or instruction is complied with.
4.7 Except where otherwise mentioned, all communications shall be addressed to the Competition Secretary, who shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition.
4.8 A Club must at all times attend satisfactorily to the business of the Competition and/or the correspondence of the Competition or Company.
4.9 If a Club is asked to submit a report in relation to any alleged violation of these Rules it may have a personal hearing, providing it notifies its intention of such within fourteen days of the date of notification from the Company, or the case will be dealt with in its absence.
4.10 The Board shall have the power to arrange representative matches at their discretion.
4.11 A match may be played each season between two clubs nominated by the Board, usually the Competition Champions and the Competition Cup Winners (or, if no Cup Competition is played for, or if the same Club wins both competitions, between the Competition Champions and a club nominated by the Board). The venue and the date for playing the match will be decided by the Board. The distribution of the proceeds of the match, after the match expenses have been deducted, will be decided by the Board.
4.12 No Club shall move to another ground or seek to share a ground, including its own, without first obtaining the consent, in writing, of the Board. Any ground sharing agreement for a period in excess of 13 weeks must be in writing and be approved by the Board before being entered into and (except in an emergency) completed by 31st May in each year to be effective for the following Playing Season. A copy of the completed agreement must be sent to the Competition Secretary within 7 days of signing.
4.13 Within ten months of its accounting reference date, each Club shall submit to the Company a copy of its full financial statements as presented to its members/shareholders with confirmation that the accounts have been approved at a duly convened general meeting.
5. INTERESTS IN MORE THAN ONE CLUB
Except with the prior written consent of the Board no person, company or business institution (including insolvency practitioners) may at any time be interested in more than one Club or in a Club and any other club playing in a Competition sanctioned by The FA. The definition of “interested” shall be the same as provided for by the Rules of the FA Challenge Cup Competition in force from time to time.
6. PLAYERS
6.1 STATUS OF PLAYERS
The FA Rules will apply in respect of all matters concerning players.
Players will be contract, non-contract or scholars. All players must be registered on forms provided by the Competition. To be eligible, a player of a Club must have obtained an International Transfer Certificate (if required), have signed a Competition registration form and have been registered and approved by the Company in accordance with a procedure set by the Board before playing in any competition organised by the Company.
is the responsibility of each Club to ensure that any player signing a registration form for that Club has, where necessary, the required International Transfer Certificate.
All players’ contracts shall be in the full name of the Club. If the club is a corporate body, the contract must state the full name of the company, and also include the company registration number.
The registration of a player shall be valid for one playing season only.
Players’ Registration Forms will be made available to Clubs by the League and will be charged in accordance with the Fees Tariff
The registration of scholars must be in accordance with The FA Rule C3(a).
The Board have the power to refuse or cancel the registration of any player found guilty of undesirable conduct and to disqualify the player in question from participating in any or all matches in the Competition for a breach of Rule.
Except when specific approval has been given by the Board a Club cannot sign or transfer more than one player, contract or non-contract, from another Club at any one time, unless a period of 14 days has elapsed between each signing.
The Board have the power to place an embargo on the registration, transfer or the loan transfer of players by any Club who are deemed to be in breach of these Rules.
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6.2 REGISTRATIONS
6.2.1 In the event of a player signing registration forms for more than one Club, priority of registration shall decide for which Club he is entitled to play. The Club submitting the later form shall be notified of the prior registration of the player and the circumstances under which the registration forms were signed shall be investigated by the Board. Any player found to have signed registration forms for more than one Club or any Club found to have knowingly induced a registered player of another Club to sign a registration form, shall be dealt with by the Board in such a manner as it shall think fit.
6.2.2 At least 11 players must be registered 14 days prior TO THE COMMENCEMENT OF EACH PLAYING SEASON.
6.3 LATE REGISTRATION
Subject to the provisions of Rule 6.5, a player will only be eligible to play in a match organised by the Company under these Rules if the appropriate forms are received by the Company (including by facsimile) 1 hour preceding the scheduled kick off time of such match.
No player whose registration is received less than 1 hour preceding the scheduled kick off time of any match will be eligible to play in a match organised by the Company on that day.
If a registration form is sent to the Company by facsimile or by email, that form must be received by the Company within 5 days of the sending of the facsimile or email and in default the player shall not be eligible to play in the Competition unless and until a valid registration form is received. The form when received must be identical to that received by facsimile. Any Club deemed to have falsified any form will be deemed to have played an ineligible player and dealt with in accordance with Rule 6.8.
The late registration of a player by facsimile is not automatically valid and it is the responsibility of the Club to ensure that the player is NOT registered with any other Club. When the player involved was previously registered with another Club, it is necessary for that Club to complete the transfer form prior to or at the same time as the registration or transfer to the new Club.
6.4 TRANSFERS
6.4.1 The transfer of the registration of a contract player from one Club to another must be in writing, on the Competition transfer form, duly signed by the contract player and the two Clubs and forwarded to the Company for approval and registration. Such contract player does not become a bona-fide player of the Club seeking his transfer until that Club has received from the Company a certificate of registration or the provisions of Rule 6.3 have been complied with. The registration of a contract player, whose contract is cancelled by mutual consent shall be automatically cancelled upon receipt by the Company of a copy of the relevant FA form.
Where a Club cancels the registration of a player, contract or non-contract, for any reason whatsoever, the Club must notify the Registrations Secretary immediately, in writing and such notification must be signed by an authorised signatory of that Club to be valid.
A non-contract player, whose registration for a Club is cancelled or transferred for any reason whatsoever, cannot return to his original Club until a minimum of four weeks has elapsed from the date of the cancellation or transfer without the consent of the Board.
6.4.2 Should a Club wish to register a Non-Contract player who is registered by another Club, both Clubs if in agreement must sign the standard Competition transfer form applicable to Non-Contract players.
If a non-contract player also registers for a club not in membership of the Competition, his registration for the Competition may be retained by the Club.
6.4.3 A player may not register for a Club unless at least 14 days have expired from the date of registration with another Club. A Club may not register a transfer of a contract or non-contract player unless that player has been registered with the transferring Club for at least 14 days.
6.4.4 Short Term Loan Transfers – Loans of contract players shall be allowed to or from clubs in membership of:
· The F.A. Premier League Limited
· The Football League Limited
· The Football Conference Limited
· The Isthmian Football League Limited
· The Northern Premier Football League Limited
· The Southern Football League Limited
· Midland Football Alliance
on such terms and conditions as shall be mutually agreed by the two clubs and the player. The transfer must be completed on the National League System Temporary Transfer Form or F.A. form (H3). The short-term loan transfer of a contract player between Clubs must be completed on the standard Competition form with a copy to The FA.
The Competition shall not approve more than TWO short-term loan transfers to or from any club including F.A. Premier League or Football League clubs at any one time.
A Club may utilise up to 465 loan days each season for short-term loan transfers. A Club can have up to a MAXIMUM of 8 players on short-term loan during the season. The minimum period of a short-term loan transfer must be 28 days with a maximum of 91 days in any one season.
Short-term loan transfers, which become permanent before their expiry date shall not count against a Club’s quota of days or players.
A player whose contract registration is cancelled by mutual consent and immediately re-registered by the same or a different Club on a non-contract basis shall not subsequently be registered as a contract player for the same Club within three months of the date of the cancellation except with the consent of the Board.
On completing the National League System Temporary Transfer Form or F.A. form H3, a Club must send the top copy to The FA, one copy to the Company and the third copy to the secretary of the league with which the player is registered.
To extend the period of any short-term loan transfer a further National League System Temporary Transfer Form or F.A. form H3 must be completed, with copies sent as provided above.
The player being taken on short or long-term loan must sign a Competition contract registration form, which will be valid for the full period of the loan, including any extension to the loan period. The standard Competition cancellation form must be used to prematurely end the temporary transfer period.
The short term transfer of a player to a Club must be completed and registered with the Company at least one hour before the scheduled time of the kick-off of the first match in which the player is required to play.
If the short-term loan transfer is extended, only the Club for whom the player was originally registered will be allowed to cancel the agreement at any time within the extension period. In the case of a goalkeeper, Clubs may mutually agree, if they so wish, to include a recall clause in the agreement to enable the Club for whom the player was originally registered to recall the player at any time during the loan period. Players, other than goalkeepers, may NOT be recalled within the first month (i.e. 28 days) of any loan period.
Any short-term loan transfer, which may terminate after the last day for registrations (Rule 6.5) may be extended for a further period.
The short-term loan transfer of a player must be continuous. If the same player is taken on loan at a later date, this second loan period will count against the permitted number of short-term loan transfers.
A player cannot play for a Club on a short-term loan for more than 91 days in any one Season.
6.4.5 Long Term Loan Transfers – The Board may approve loans between clubs in membership of the leagues referred to in Rule 6.4.4 in respect of players aged 24 and under on or before 30th June prior to the commencement of the playing season and provided the loan is registered by 3pm on the Friday before the Playing Season commences or on or before the 31st December and providing that such agreement is dated to expire at the end of the season relative to the Club taking him on loan.
A player on long-term loan may not be recalled except for a goalkeeper or where the player is to be transferred permanently by the Club holding his registered contract. A player other than a goalkeeper so recalled cannot be permitted to play for the Club holding his registration after such recall until the end of the Season. Players so recalled can only be replaced by a further long-term loan with permission from the Company. Long-term loans transfers will not count against the number of short term loans in Rule 6.4.4.
6.4.6 The Maximum number of Short Term Loans will be 8 per season and Long Term Loans will be 2 per season. Whilst a Club may register any number of Work Experience players only 2 may play in any one match in accordance with FA Rules. A Club may name up to a maximum of 5 players on a team sheet who are either Long Term Loams, Short Term Loans or Work Experience players with no more than 2 from any one category
6.4.7 The Company may, at its discretion, refuse any further registration of players to any Club, which has not completed payment of a transfer arrangement made with another Club or arranged for the payment to be adequately secured. The Club concerned will continue to pay the player in accordance with his contract.
6.5 CLOSING DATE FOR REGISTRATIONS
After 5pm on 31st March each season, registrations and transfer of registrations will be declined or will be approved subject to such limitations and restrictions as the Board may determine and, if so determined, the player shall only be eligible to play in the matches for which permission is granted by the Board.
6.6 CLUB LIST OF PLAYERS AND TRANSFER LIST
Clubs shall furnish the Registrations Secretary by 1st June with the following details:
6.6.1 a list of contract players whose agreements do not terminate at the end of the current season;
6.6.2 a list of contract players in respect of whom the Club has exercised its option in accordance with Football Association Rule C1, J;
6.6.3 a list of contract players in respect of whom the existing agreements do not include an option to renew but which the Club is desirous of offering further engagements, in accordance with Football Association Rule C1,J;
6.6.4 a list of contract players in respect of whom the Club has exercised its option in accordance with Football Association Rule C1, J but whose registration the Club is prepared to transfer;
6.6.5 a list of contract players the Club has released;
6.6.6 a list of all players whose registration the Club wishes to be cancelled;
Clubs shall also complete the standard Competition forms and return these by this date.
6.7 SUBSTITUTE PLAYERS
A Club at its discretion may use three substitute players at any time in a match. Substitution can only be made when play is stopped for any reason and the Referee has given permission. When a Club is making a substitution it shall use a Board to show the number of the player to be substituted and the number of the substitute player.
A maximum of 5 SUBSTITUTES may be nominated and they must be included on the official team sheet handed to the Referee before the match in accordance with Rule 8.11.1. A substitute may not be used to replace a player who has been suspended from the match by the Match Officials.
If a player does not take part in the match for which he is a nominated substitute he shall be deemed as not having played for the Club in that match.
If a named substitute is not a registered player with the Club for the Competition and does NOT take part in the match, the offending Club may be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
6.8 PLAYING AN INELIGIBLE PLAYER
Any Club found to have played an ineligible player in a match shall have any points gained from that match deducted from its record and have levied upon it a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. The Company may vary the decision in respect of the deduction of points gained only in a case where a substitute player participates in a match or is listed on the official team sheet but does not participate in that match.
The Company may vary this decision in respect of the points gained only in circumstances where the ineligibility is due to the failure to obtain an International Transfer Certificate or in the case of where a substitute player who is ineligible participates in a match or is listed on the official team but does not participate in that match
6.9 FINANCIAL ARRANGEMENTS
6.9.1 Subject to clauses 6.9.2 to 6.9.7, and to the Rules and Regulations of The FA, a Club may negotiate a financial arrangement with its players.
6.9.2 All players under a written contract must be registered with the Competition and The FA.
6.9.3 All payments and benefits due to the player must be shown in the contract.
6.9.4 All payments made to players must be made by the Club and fully recorded in the accounting records of the Club.
6.9.5 All salaried payments (whether to contract or non-contract players) must be subject to PAYE and National Insurance.
6.9.6 All salary payments due on written contracts must be stated gross, before PAYE and National Insurance deductions.
6.9.7 Any players paid expenses should be reimbursed via an expense claim form. The club should retain all expense records in a format acceptable to the Inland Revenue.
6.10 Rule not applicable
7. CLUB COLOURS
7.1 On or before a date specified by the Company each year, every Club shall notify the Competition Secretary, in writing, of details of their first choice colours (shirts, shorts and socks) and such details shall be printed in the Handbook published by the Company for the ensuing Playing Season. The colours registered by each Club shall be worn during the following season when playing at home. Shirts must be numbered 1-16 (or 1-17 where 13 is excluded) such that the numbers can be clearly identified by officials and spectators. Striped, hooped or otherwise patterned shirts shall have numbers affixed to contrasting patches or numbers in a contrasting colour with bold outline. No changes to the first choice colours or combination of colours shall be permitted without the consent of the Board
7.2 When the registered colours of shirts shorts or socks of two competing Clubs are alike or similar the visiting Club shall change the relevant item to a colour, which does not clash with the corresponding item of the home Club. Neck and cuff trim colours on shirts shall not be regarded as a basic colour for the purpose of this Rule.
Subject to the foregoing a Club may, if they wish, wear colours not registered with the Competition for away matches. It is the responsibility of the visiting Club, if they do not intend to play in their registered colours, to notify the home team and check that their colours will not clash.
7.3 The goalkeeper shall play in kit clearly distinguishable from the colours of the shirts worn by all other players in the match and the Match Officials.
The goalkeeper may not wear a black jersey or a predominantly black jersey in the Competition fixture.
7.4 No Club shall be permitted to register or play in shirts the colour of which is likely to cause confusion with the outfits worn by the Match Officials (i.e. black or dark blue).
7.5 The players’ shirts must be clearly numbered in accordance with the list handed to the match referee before a match and there must be no change of numbers during the match except for a change of goalkeeper or if permitted by the match referee because of a blood injury.
7.6 The Captain shall wear a distinguishing armband to indicate his status.
7.7 Both sleeves of the shirts of all players in matches played under the jurisdiction of the Company shall carry a Competition logo as supplied by the Competition on an annual basis if so decided by the Board.
Shirt advertising must comply with FA Regulations.
8. PLAYING OF MATCHES.
8.1 The Board shall fix the date on which the Playing Season shall commence.
8.2 All matches shall be played under the Rules and Regulations of The FA and in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the International Football Association Board.
8.3 All matches shall be of ninety minutes’ duration. Any match not complying may be ordered to stand as a completed match or replayed for the full period of ninety minutes or the match awarded to the Club not at fault, as the Board may decide, on such terms as the Board shall decide. The half-time interval in all matches shall not exceed 15 minutes.
Where a match is abandoned for reasons over which neither Club has control, the home Club shall retain the gate receipts of such uncompleted match and the Board shall decide the terms upon which any replayed match shall be played.
In the event of a match having to be postponed for any reason due to problems arising from one of the Clubs involved, their prospective opponents shall be compensated by them. In the case of the visiting Club, should it have undertaken all or part of the journey, travelling expenses and meal allowances may be claimed, based on the total mileage involved on the whole journey. In exceptional circumstances expenses for overnight accommodation for up to a maximum of eighteen persons are claimable and if the Clubs fail to agree a figure the Board will have absolute discretion in the matter. No claim in excess of £10 per person will be acceptable.
All claims for compensation shall be received by the Competition Secretary within 14 days of the date of the match to which the claim relates.
Where a match is abandoned because of the conduct of one team or it’s Club members the Board shall be empowered to award the match to the opponents and fine them in accordance with the Fines Tariff. Where an abandonment is caused by the conduct of both teams or their Club members the Board will take such action as they consider appropriate and both shall be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
8.4 In the event of the match being postponed, not completed or abandoned, the home Club must immediately telephone or facsimile the Competition Results service, the Fixtures Secretary and, in the case of a match postponement, the Appointing Authority, the visiting Club and the Match Officials. When a postponement occurs in any FA or External Cup competition, the home Club if two Clubs are playing the tie, or the Club if the match involves a team outside of the Competition, must also follow this procedure.
8.5 Each Club must take every precaution to keep its ground in good playing condition and amenities (including floodlights) in good working order throughout the Playing Season.
8.6 Where a match has been postponed for any reason, the two Clubs concerned must agree within 7 days of the postponement a new date (which shall be within 30 days of the original date) and in default the Board is empowered to order Clubs to play on a date it considers suitable. The Fixture Secretary shall determine the new date.
Any Club without just cause failing to fulfil an engagement to play a Competition match on the appointed date shall for each offence be liable to expulsion from the Competition and/or such other disciplinary action the Board may determine, including the deduction of up to a maximum of three points from the offending Club’s record, any expenses incurred by their opponents, and a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
In the event of a Club being in breach of the previous paragraph of this Rule then the Board may award points to the Club not at fault as if the match had been played and the League table shall reflect the position as if the match had been played with the result awarded by the Board.
8.7 The postponement of matches due to ground conditions must be carried out in accordance with Rule 15.2.
8.8 All Clubs must have a facsimile machine, a mobile telephone and an email address , operational at all times. These will be listed in the Competition Handbook unless a Club requests otherwise.
8.9 Each Club shall be prepared to kick-off at the scheduled time unless a satisfactory explanation is offered. Any Club commencing a Competition match with less than 11 players may be subject to a fine in accordance with the fines tariff. Each team participating in a match shall represent the full available strength of each competing Club.
8.10 When a Club obtains the consent of the Board to postpone a fixture because of an epidemic, affecting the availability of their players, that Club shall be liable to pay any direct expenses incurred, if any, to the opposing Club. The amount of claim will be at the discretion of the Board. Requests for the postponement of a match for any reason will not be considered more than forty-eight hours before the scheduled time of kick-off.
Medical certificates for those players affected, signed by the players’ own doctor, must be forwarded to the Competition Secretary within fourteen days of the postponement, along with a full list of contract and non-contract players currently registered by the Club at the date of the match which was postponed, giving full reasons against each name for the player’s unavailability.
8.11.1 Each Club must hand copies of a list of name(s) of players taking part in a match (including the name(s) and number(s) of the nominated substitute(s) to the Referee and a representative of their opponents in the presence of the Referee at least forty-five minutes before the scheduled time of kick-off. The players’ numbers (in accordance with Rule 7) and the colours of the playing strip must be clearly stated. Any Clubs in breach may be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff.
8.11.2 Any Club altering its team selection or numbering after team sheets have been exchanged may be fined in accordance with the Fines Tariff. A player who is named on the team sheet exchanged under Rule 8.11.1 may be replaced without fine if he is injured warming up after exchange of the team sheet. Any subsequent changes must be notified to the referee and to a representative of the opponents before the actual kick-off.
8.12.1 The home Club shall advise the visiting Club and the Match Officials of the date and time of kick-off of each match, to be received at least five days prior to the match and the visiting Club and the Match Officials must acknowledge receipt to be received at least three days before the match.
8.12.2 Where a match is re-arranged or cancelled after the officials have been appointed, it is the duty of the home Club to notify the officials of the cancellation of their appointments immediately. Clubs in default of this Rule may be subject to any action decided by the Board.
8.13 Unless mutually agreed by the Clubs concerned, the time of kick-off shall be:
Saturday matches – 3.00 pm
Midweek matches – 7.45 pm unless a Club notifies the Fixture Secretary in writing before the commencement of each Playing Season to state that it wishes all its home midweek matches to kick off at 7.30pm
Official bank holidays and Sundays – 3.00pm unless agreed otherwise by the two Clubs and the Board; application shall be made to the Competition Secretary by both Clubs at least 21 days before the relevant date. All agreed changes to time of kick-off to be notified to the Board immediately for confirmation.
To re-schedule a midweek fixture for an evening other than a Club’s usual midweek night will require written agreement of both Clubs and the Fixture Secretary.
The Fixture Secretary reserves the right to amend scheduled fixtures and kick-off times to meet television requirements as necessary. Notification will be provided by the Competition Secretary, in writing to both Clubs for fixtures so rescheduled.
8.14 All matches shall be played on the home and away principle and the Board shall determine how the fixtures shall be arranged. Such fixtures shall take precedence over all competitions in which a Club may engage, with the exception of:
· The FA Challenge Cup/Welsh Cup.
· The FA Challenge Trophy/Vase Competition.
· The Senior Cup Competition for which the Club is eligible, of the Affiliated Association to which it was first affiliated.
Clubs playing in the FA of Wales Challenge Cup, or an Affiliated Association Cup Competition which allows the option to play the tie mid-week, must arrange the match to avoid interference with Saturday fixtures, providing the opposing club drawn at home has suitable floodlighting. This applies to ALL Clubs who play in a League competition, which forms any part of the National League System of Football outside the Football League.
Scheduled Saturday fixtures must not be re-arranged without permission of the Fixture Secretary. This excludes FA Cup, FA Trophy and FA Vase matches. Clubs may be ordered to re-arrange outstanding matches, at the discretion of the Board, and where necessary their prospective opponents instructed accordingly. Clubs with open dates on Saturdays may be instructed to play any outstanding Competition fixture on such date. A minimum of 5 days’ notice will be given in respect of any such re-arrangement.
8.15 A Club may not enter its first team in any outside competition, other than those listed in Rule 8.14, without the prior permission of the Board. The Fixture Secretary must be informed of all fixtures, postponements and results of all matches played in any other competition.
8.16 The Board shall determine the policy of the Competition for the issuing of match day passes.
8.17 The Board may change any Competition fixtures during the season to suit the overall interests of the Competition and shall have the power to decide whether a ground is suitable for Competition matches and to order a Club whose ground is deemed unsuitable to play its home matches at alternative suitable ground.
8.18 4 weeks’ notice is required from Clubs wishing to re-arrange a Saturday match to Friday evening or Sunday. A request made in less than this period of time will only be considered by the Board in exceptional circumstances and granted at their discretion.
8.19 All Competition matches shall be arranged as soon as practicable. The copyright in all lists of arrangements of such fixtures shall be vested in the Company.
8.20 The home Club shall be responsible for notifying the Competition immediately following the conclusion of each home Competition match the result of that match together with the attendance, the times of all goals scored in the match and the scorer of each goal. In any FA or AFFILIATED ASSOCIATION Competition the home Club if two Clubs are playing the tie, or the Club if the match involves a team outside of the Competition, must also follow this procedure.
8.21 The home Club is responsible for publishing a full match programme acceptable to the Board for each of its Competition matches. A team sheet will not be considered sufficient to comply with this Rule.
The visiting Club must send in writing to the home Club details of the proposed team they plan to field together with their Club history and up-to-date pen pictures of their current players registered with the Competition for the seas at least five days before the scheduled date of the match between the two Clubs.
The home Club programme must include the details sent by the visiting Club in the match day programme and a copy of each match day programme shall be sent by the home Club to the Competition within 3 days of the match with the relevant match report form.
Clubs will be responsible for all comments in their match day programme in respect of the Competition, the Company or other member Clubs, notwithstanding any disclaimers to the contrary. No part of a Club’s programme issued for a match in any competition shall, in the opinion of the Board, bring the Competition or the Company into disrepute.
All Clubs will be responsible for their official website or similar computer related information system, which is within the public domain. Nothing shall be included on the website which in the opinion of the Board brings the Competition or the Company into disrepute.
8.22.1 In all Competition Matches, the number of Clubs players and officials seated on the team benches, in the designated technical area, must not exceed 11 unless the team bench facility provides more than 11 individual seats.
8.22.2 only one person at a time has the authority to convey tactical instructions to the players during the match. This person shall be the team manager or the team coach. He is allowed to move to the edge of the technical area to issue instructions to his team but then must return to his position on the bench immediately after giving these instructions.
8.22.3 all team officials and substitutes seated on the bench shall be listed on the official team sheet when it is submitted to the Match Officials. Only those persons listed on the official team sheet shall be permitted in the technical area.
8.22.4 the occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner at all times. The Referee to The FA, who shall have the power to impose sanctions as deemed fit, will report misconduct by occupants of this area.
8.22.5 With the exception of the team manager, the team coach and any substitutes who are warming up or warming down, all other personnel are to remain seated on the trainers bench. The team manager or team coach is allowed to move to the edge of the technical area to issue instructions to his team, but must then return to