Discipline

Scottish Junior Football will adopt a revised discipline system to fall in line with the SFA.

DISCIPLINE SYSTEM

SENDING-OFF OFFENCES

A1 Serious Foul Play

A2 Violent Conduct

A3 Spitting at an opponent or any other person

A4 Denying the opposing team or an opponent a goal or an obvious goal scoring opportunity as defined by Law 12

A5 Offensive, insulting or abusive language and / or gestures

A6 Receiving a second caution in the same match

CAUTIONABLE OFFENCES

B1 Unsporting behaviour

There are different circumstances when a player must be cautioned for unsporting behaviour which include, but are not limited to, when a player:

a) Impedes an opponent with contact
b) Recklessly trips or attempts to trip an opponent
c) Recklessly tackles or challenges an opponent
d) Recklessly kicks or attempts to kick an opponent
e) Denies an opponent an obvious goal scoring opportunity as defined by Law 12
f) Holds or pushes an opponent
g) Commits an offence which interferes with or stops a promising attach outwith the penalty area
h) Excessively celebrates the scoring of a goal as defined by Law 12
i) Handles the ball deliberately
j) Shows a lack of respect for the game
k) Commits an act of simulation
l) Commits any other offence(s) deemed by a match official to be unsporting behaviour.

B2 Dissent by word or action

B3 Persistently offending against the Laws of the Game

B4 Delaying the restart of play

B5 Failing to respect the required distance at restart of play

B6 Entering or re-entering or deliberately leaving the field of play without the referee’s permission.

After each match, the Referee will submit a report online showing:

1. The Player’s number – the player’s name – the offence number
2. The Official – name & position

SENDING-OFF OFFENCES

Any player sent off during a match shall be subject to the following automatic suspension/fine:

1 Serious Foul Play - 2 games + £15 fine

2 Violent Conduct
a) Punching an opponent/attempting - 2 games + £20 fine
b) Kick an opponent/attempting - 2 games + £15 fine
c) Pushing an opponent/attempting - 2 games + £10 fine
d) Elbowing an opponent/attempting - 2 games + £20 fine
e) Head butting an opponent/attempting - 2 games + £20 fine
f) Stamping on opponent/attempting - 2 games + £20 fine
g) Others - 2 games + £10 fine

3 Spitting at an Opponent or Any Other Person - 2 games+£20 fine

4 Denying the Opposing Team or an Opponent a goal or an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity as Defined by Law 12 - 1 game + £10 fine

5 Offensive, Insulting or Abusive Language and/or Gestures - 1 game + £10 fine

6 Receiving a Second Caution in the Same Match - 1 game + £10 fine

All suspensions are effective immediately and shall apply to the club’s next official match(es), regardless of competition [subject to relevant appeal procedures].

CAUTIONABLE OFFENCES (LEAGUE)

The following sanctions shall be applied for the accumulation of cautionable offences within the relevant league competition:

6 cautions 1 game + £10 fine 12 cautions 2 games + £10 fine 18 cautions 3 games + £10 fine 24 cautions 4 games + £10 fine

Suspensions shall be effective from the 14th day following the 6th/12th/18th/24th caution, as appropriate, and shall apply to all SJFA matches.

N.B. Cautions which result in a sending-off for receiving a second caution in the same match will not be added to a player’s cumulative total of cautions.

CAUTIONABLE OFFENCES (CUP)

The following sanctions shall be applied for cautions incurred within SJFA Cup Competitions (and shall not be recorded in a players’ league cumulative total):

• Domestic Cup Tie - £4 fine per caution • Scottish Junior Cup - £10 fine per caution

APPEALS

Please note that all Appeals must be accompanied by video evidence of the incident or the Appeal shall not be permitted.

Appeals may be submitted on the grounds of either Mistaken Identity or Wrongful Dismissal or Wrongful Caution as follows:

APPEAL - MISTAKEN IDENTITY

An appeal on the grounds of Mistaken Identity may be submitted in respect of any cautionable or sending-off offence listed within the Schedule of Offences.

In all Mistaken Identity Appeals the name of true perpetrator of the offence must be named as part of the Appeal or it will not proceed.

APPEAL – WRONGFUL DISMISSAL OR CAUTION

An appeal on the grounds of Wrongful Dismissal or Caution may be submitted only in respect of the following offences:

A1 Serious Foul Play

A2 Violent Conduct

A3 Spitting at an Opponent or Any Other Person

A4 Denying the Opposing Team or an Opponent a goal or an Obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity as Defined by Law 12 B1k Commits an act of simulation

APPEAL PROCEDURE

All Appeals must be lodged with the nominated Regional Official or, in the case of the Scottish Junior Cup, with the SJFA Secretary, within 2 working days of the game (no later than 5.00pm) and accompanied by relevant supporting documentation and evidence.

The Region/Association/Club can access a full report via the Club Admin System. On receipt of a properly lodged Appeal, the automatic suspension will be lifted. Such Appeal will be heard by the appropriate Committee as soon as possible and, generally, before the club’s next match.

If the Appeal is upheld, the offence and resultant sanction will be quashed and the Appeal fee shall not become payable.

If the Appeal is dismissed, the Committee will deal with the Player/Official on the merits of the incident, the appropriate sanction will become effective immediately, and the Appeal fee shall become payable.

In the event that an Appeal submitted to the Region or the SJFA has not been determined prior to the player / club’s participation in the Scottish Senior Cup or the Pyramid Play-offs, such player shall not be eligible to participate in those fixtures.

For all on-field Standard Offences, as above, the decision of the Regional and SJFA Committees will be final and binding.

REPORTING OF CLUB OFFICIALS

Technical/Coaching Staff & Officials who are removed from the Technical Area or reported by a Match Official shall be automatically fined £50 subject to the right of appeal. In the event of a second offence being committed in the same season, a fine of £50 + 2 game ban will apply, third offence £50 + 3 game ban.

If the offence is of a serious nature, the Committee will reserve the right to increase the punishment to reflect the seriousness of the offence.

The Official has 5 days to submit an appeal.

Where match officials submit an Excessive Misconduct Report then the Regional Official or SJFA Secretary will write to the player / official via the club requesting their comments / observations on the report and the matter will be dealt with at the next scheduled meeting.

ON-FIELD OFFENCES An appeal fee of £25 will become payable in the event of the appeal being dismissed.

TEAM STAFF OFFENCES An appeal fee of £25 will become payable in the event of the appeal being dismissed.

Please note, suspensions will apply to all fixtures including Scottish Junior Cup ties, & Scottish Senior Cup tie & Pyramid play-offs.

All fines and suspensions incurred under the accumulation of cautions will be notified to the player via the club.

It is the responsibility of the club to ensure the player / Official, etc. complies with the ordering off system.

All fines must be paid within 7 days.

Players reported for “off the field” offences will be dealt with as previously by the appropriate Committee

Serious offences to be dealt with on their merit by the appropriate Committee (i.e. both players & team officials.)

Any player who accumulates 3 red cards during the season for the offences A1, A2, A3 and/or A5 will have subsequent suspensions and fines doubled.