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From the start of the 2023/24 season, The FA will
introduce point deductions for teams across the grassroots game if their
players or coaches commit repeated offences of serious misconduct,
making clear to clubs that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated.
Point deductions will apply to clubs at Step 7 and below
of the men’s game, and clubs across Tier 3 and below in the women’s
pyramid,
which commit cumulative incidents of serious misconduct.
This could include acts of discrimination and assault or attempted
assault, and physical contact or attempted physical contact against a
match official.
Deductions will range from 3 to 12 points depending on
the amount and severity of offences committed within a 12-month period.
Points Deductions FAQs
1. If a Clubs
first team and then U18s team commit serious offences, are the Club
charged?
a. No, the charge is triggered if there are at least two proven
discriminatory offences by the same team.
The same applies to Assault / Attempted Assault, Physical Contact or
Attempted Physical Contact against a match official,
there needs to be at least two offences committed by individual(s)
within the same team.
2. Does it include offences from 2022/23?
a. No, this process will commence for offences taking place on,
or after the 1st of July 2023.
3. What happens when a Club reach the threshold
with players on short-term registrations?
a. Regardless of registration length, the club will become liable
if their participant(s) commit offences listed within the guidance
document.
4. Why isn’t this being applied in the
professional game?
a. We understand why this question would be asked, however there
is a very specific issue in the grassroots game,
insofar as accumulative offences including aggravated misconduct and
assault / physical contact offences.
To address this issue, teams will be deducted points where they fail to
act on previous serious misconduct.
5. What is the process of communicating the points
deduction order to the league and following that, what would happen if
the league did not comply with the order to deduct the points?
a. Once the disciplinary decision arrives, which will be encompassed
into a set of written reasons, the County FA should wait until the
appeal deadline has surpassed.
Once surpassed, they should inform the league and provide them with the
findings, who will then deduct the points from the league standing.
If all fixtures have concluded, the points will be deducted from the
following season and the team will commence on minus points.
6. Why are we not including other behaviours in
particular assaults by a participant on a participant, can we have some
good comms to address this?
a. There is little evidence to suggest accumulative offences including
participant on participant take place.
Our intention is to address the issues where data supports, including
aggravated misconduct and assaults / attempted assaults & physical
contact / attempted physical contact against a match official.
7. What is the definition of strict liability and
if it is strict liability what can the panel do with aggravating and
mitigating factors?
a. Strict liability means that the underlying offences have been
committed as a matter of fact, therefore the disciplinary panel will
only be required to determine sanction.
There is a sanctioning range, meaning based on the aggravating and
mitigating factors, the panel can determine where on that scale the
breach fits best. |
