RULES AND REGULATIONS
This copy of the rules may not be accurate or correct for help please contact the League Secretary. Last updated July 2010
LANCASHIRE FOOTBALL LEAGUE RULES
AND REGULATIONS
SEASON 2010-2010
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
1. (A) This Competition shall
be designated the Lancashire Football League and known as the
Lancashire Football League and shall consist of not more than 44
clubs who shall be Full Member Clubs.
All such Member Clubs must
be affiliated to an affiliated County Football Association and their
names and particulars shall be returned annually by the appointed
date on the Form "D" to the County Football Association.
The area covered by the Competition Membership shall be Lancashire,
Cheshire, Cumbria, and Yorkshire and their surrounding Counties
This Competition shall apply
annually for sanction to the the Football Association(s) and the
constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in divisions,
ENTRY FEE, SUBSCRIPTION, DEPOSIT
2. (A) Applications by Clubs
for admission to this Competition or the entry of an additional
team(s) must be made in writing to the Secretary and must be
accompanied by an Entry Fee of £50 per team which shall be
returned in the event of non-election.
At the discretion of a
majority of the accredited voting members present applications, of
which due notice has been given, may be received at the Annual
General Meeting or a Special General Meeting. The Entry Fee shall apply.
When Rule 12(B) is applied
or a team seeks a transfer or is compulsorily transferred to another
division no Entry Fee shall be payable.
(B) The Annual Subscription
shall be £400.00 per team payable on or before the, Annual
General Meeting in each year.
(C) Each Club shall within 7
days of election pay a Deposit of £50, which shall be returnable
to Clubs on leaving the Competition provided they have fulfilled
their fixtures and complied with all orders of the Management Committee.
(D) A Club shall not
participate in this Competition until the Entry Fee, Annual
Subscription and Deposit have been paid.
(E) Clubs must advise
annually to the Secretary in writing by the Annual General Meeting of
its parent County Football Association affiliation number for the
forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £50.00
Clubs must advise the Secretary in writing, or on the prescribed
form, of details of its Headquarters, Officers and any other
information required by the Competition.
(F) All clubs in membership
of the Lancashire Football League must have in place adequate
insurance cover for the well being of players, officials and
spectators and their possessions, and the club must also ensure that
this insurance is valid should the club play home games on a ground
that is not their main ground
(G) All cheques payments to
the Lancashire Football League must be made using a club or company cheque.
OFFICERS
3. The Officers of the
Competition shall be the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer,
Secretary, Referees/Fixtures Secretary and Registration Secretary to
be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors are
not Officers).
MANAGEMENT, NOMINATION, ELECTION
4. (A) The Competition shall
be governed in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The
Football Association by a Management Committee comprised of the
Officers and not less than 3 members who shall be elected at the
Annual General Meeting.
(B) Retiring Officers shall
be eligible to become candidates for re-election without nomination.
All other candidates for election as Officers or Members of the
Management Committee shall be nominated to the Secretary in writing,
signed by the Secretaries of two Member Clubs, not later than 1st
June in each year. Names of the candidates for election shall
be circulated with the notice of the Annual General Meeting. In
the event of there being no nomination in accordance with the
foregoing for any office, nominations may be received at the Annual
General Meeting.
(C) The Management Committee
shall meet as often as necessary to deal with business as it arises.
On receiving a requisition
signed by two-thirds of the Members of the Management Committee the
Secretary shall convene a meeting of the Committee.
(D) Except where otherwise
mentioned all communications shall be addressed to the Secretary who
shall conduct the correspondence of the Competition and keep a record
of its proceedings.
(E) All communications
received from Clubs must be conducted through their nominated Officers.
POWERS OF MANAGEMENT
5. (A) The Management
Committee may appoint such other sub-committees as they may consider
necessary and may delegate such of their powers as they deem
necessary to such committees. The decisions of all such
committees shall be reported to the Management Committee for
ratification. The Management Committee shall have power to deal only
with matters within the Competition and not for any matters of
misconduct that are under the jurisdiction of the Football
Association or affiliated Association.
(B) Subject to the
permission of the Lancashire County Football Association having been
obtained the Management Committee may order a match or matches to be
played each season, the proceeds to be devoted to the funds of the
Competition and, if necessary, may call upon each Club (including any
Club which may have withdrawn during the season) to contribute
equally such sums as may be necessary to meet any deficiency at the
end of the season. (See Rule 6(e)).
(C) Each Member of the
Management Committee shall have the right to attend and vote at all
Management Committee Meetings and have one vote thereat, but no
Member shall be allowed to vote on any matters directly appertaining
to such Member or to the Club so represented. (This shall apply to
the procedure of any sub-committee).
In the event of the voting
being equal on any matter, the Chairman shall have a second or
casting vote.
(D) The Management Committee
shall have powers to apply, act upon and enforce the Rules of the
Competition and shall also have jurisdiction over all matters
affecting the Competition, including any not provided for in the
Rules. Except where these Rules provide for the imposition of a set
penalty any Club, Club Official (limited to Chairman, Secretary or
Treasurer) or Player alleged to be in breach of a Competition Rule
must be formally charged in writing and given the opportunity to
present their case before the Management Committee. Financial
penalties can only be imposed if included within the set penalties
for breaches of Competition rules. All breaches of the Laws of the
Game, Rules and Regulations of The Football Association shall be
dealt with in accordance with F.A. Rules by the appropriate
Association. With the exception of Clubs playing at Step 7 of the
Football Pyramid and the Women's Premier League, the maximum fine
permitted for any breach of a Competition rule is £250, and when
setting any fine, the Competition must ensure that the penalty is
proportional to the offence, taking into account any mitigating circumstances.
(E) All decisions of the
Management Committee shall be binding subject to the right of appeal
to the Board of Appeal in accordance with Rule 16.
Decisions of the Management
Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned within 14 days.
(F) 4 Members of the Management
Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
of the Management Committee and 2 members shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business by any sub-committee of the Competition.
(G) The Management Committee, as
it may deem necessary, shall have power to fill in an acting
capacity, any vacancies that may occur amongst their number.
(H) A Club having failed to
comply with an order or instruction of the Management Committee, or
failing to satisfactorily attend to the business and/or the
correspondence of the Competition shall be liable to be fined or
otherwise penalised at the discretion of the Management Committee.
(I) All fines and charges shall
be paid within 14 days of the date of posting of the written notification.
Clubs, Officials or
individuals committing a breach of this Rule will incur such
penalties as the Management Committee may impose.
(J) A member of the
Management Committee appointed by the Competition to attend a meeting
or match may have any expenses incurred refunded by the Competition.
(K) The Management Committee
shall have the power to fill any vacancy that may occur in the
membership of the Competition between the Annual General or Special
General Meeting called to decide the constitution and the
commencement of the Competition season.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
6. (A) The Annual General
Meeting shall be held not later than 30th June in each year. At
this meeting the following business shall be transacted provided that
at least 50% Members are present and entitled to vote: -
(i) To receive and
confirm the Minutes of the preceding Annual General Meeting.
(ii) To consider any business
arising therefrom.
(iii) To receive and adopt
the Annual Report, Balance Sheet and Statement of
Accounts.
(iv) Election of Clubs to
fill vacancies (as recommended by the Management
Committee).
(v) Constitution of the
Competition for ensuing season.
(vi) Election of Officers and
Management Committee.
(vii) Appointment of Auditors.
(viii) Alteration of Rules,
if any (of which notice has been given).
(ix) Fix the date for the
commencement and conclusion of playing season.
(x) Other business of which
due notice shall have been given and accepted as being relevant to an
Annual General Meeting.
(B) A copy of the duly verified
Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to
each Club at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the
Lancashire County Football Association and the Football Association.
(C) A signed copy of the duly
verified Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the
Lancashire County Football Association and the Football Association
within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General Meeting.
(D) Each Full Member Club shall
be empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting.
Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only. Not less than 14 days'
notice shall be given of any Meeting.
(E) Clubs who have withdrawn
their Membership of the Competition during the season being concluded
or who are not continuing Membership shall be entitled to attend but
shall vote only on matters relating to the season being concluded.
This provision will not apply to Clubs expelled in accordance with
Rule 17.
(F) All voting shall be
conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be demanded by at
least 33% of the delegates qualified to vote or the Chairman so decides.
(G) No individual shall be
entitled to vote on behalf of more than one Full Member Club.
(H) Any continuing Member Club
failing to be represented at the Annual General Meeting without
satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.
(I) Officers and
Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at
an Annual General Meeting.
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED
7. The Chairman and the
Secretary of each Club shall complete and sign the following
agreement which shall be deposited with the Competition together with
the Application for Membership for the coming season, or upon
indicating that the Club intends to compete.
"We, A,_____
_____________of _________________________(Chairman) and
B________________________of _________________________(Secretary)
of the _________________________________Football Club have been
provided with a copy of the Rules and Regulations of the
______________________Competition and do hereby agree for and on
behalf of the said Club, if elected or accepted into Membership, to
conform to those Rules and Regulations and to accept, abide by and
implement the decisions of the Management Committee of the
Competition, subject to the right of appeal in accordance with Rule 16."
Any alteration of the
Chairman and /or Secretary on the above Agreement must be notified to
the parent County Football Association(s) to which the Club is
affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
8. (A) Contract players, as
defined in Football Association Rules, are permitted in this Competition.
(B) A registered playing
member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects eligible has:-
(1) Signed a fully and
correctly completed Competition registration form in ink,
countersigned by an
Officer of the Club, and who has been registered with the
Registrations Secretary 1
day prior to playing and whose completed registration form has been
received by the league prior to playing.
EITHER AND
OR BOTH
(2) Signed a fully and
correctly completed Competition registration form in ink
on a match day prior to
playing, countersigned by an Officer of the Club and
Witnesses by an Officer
of the opposing Club, and submitted to the
Registrations Secretary
within two days (Sundays excluded)
Registration forms may
also be submitted to the Registrations
Secretary by facsimile
machine prior to the player playing.
(E) A player having taken
part in matches for any Club affiliated to any County Football
Association shall not be allowed to join, be transferred to, or sign
for a Club in the Competition without first proving to the officials
of the intended Club that the player has discharged all reasonable
financial liabilities to the previous Club or Clubs, and a Club
official may not accept such player's signature without first
ascertaining whether such claims have been discharged to the
satisfaction of the Club, or Clubs, for which the player last played.
(F) A fee of £75.00
shall be paid each season for the registration of players .
Registration forms may be
obtained by E-Mail from the Registrations Secretary, or by printing
them off from the Lancashire Football League website.
(G) The Management Committee
shall decide all registration disputes.
In the event of a player
signing a registration form or having a registration submitted for
more than one Club priority of registration shall decide for which
Club the player shall be registered. The Registration Secretary shall
notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of
the previous registration.
(H) It shall be a breach of
Rule for a player to: -
(i) Play for more than
one Club in the Competition in the same season without
first being transferred.
(ii) Having signed for
one Club in the Competition, sign for another Club in the
Competition in that
season except for the purpose of a transfer.
(iii) Submit a signed
registration form for registration that the player had wilfully
neglected to accurately
or fully complete.
(I) (i) The Management
Committee shall have power to accept the registration
of any player.
(ii) The Management
Committee shall have power to refuse, cancel
or suspend the
registration of any player or may fine any player at their
discretion who has been
charged and found guilty of registration irregularities. (Subject to
Rule 16).
(iii) The Management
Committee shall have power to make application to refuse, cancel or
suspend the registration of any player charged and found guilty of
undesirable conduct (Subject to Rule 16) subject to the right of
appeal to the FA or the relevant County Football Association.
Undesirable contact shall mean an incident or repeated conduct, which
may deter a participant from being involved in this competition.
Application should be made to the parent County of the club the
player is registered with.
(Note: Action under
Clause (iii) shall not be taken against a player for misconduct until
the matter has been dealt with by the appropriate Association, and
then only in cases of the player bringing the Competition into
disrepute and will in any case be subject to an Appeal to the
Football Association.) For the purpose of this Rule, bringing the
Competition into disrepute can only be considered where the player
has received in excess of 112 days suspension, or 10 matches in match
based discipline, in a period of two years or less from the date of
the first offence.)
(J) Subject to The Football
Association Rules dealing with players without a written contract
when a player desires a transfer, the Club the player wishes to
transfer to shall submit a transfer form to the Registrations
Secretary accompanied by a fee of £5.00 Such transfer shall be
referred by the Registrations Secretary to the Club for which the
player is registered. Should this Club object to the transfer it
should state its objections in writing to the (Registrations)
Secretary and to the player concerned within seven days of receipt of
the transfer form. Upon receipt of the Club's consent, or upon
its failure to give written objection within seven days, the
Registrations Secretary may, on behalf of the Management Committee,
transfer the player who shall be deemed eligible to play for the new
Club from such date or 2 days after receipt of such transfer.
In the event of an objection
to a transfer the matter shall be referred to the Management
Committee for a decision.
(K) The registration of a
player may not be cancelled nor a player transferred to another Club
in the Competition after 31st March. New registrations of players are
permitted throughout the whole season.
(L) A Club shall keep a list
of the players it registers and a record of the games in which they
have played, and shall produce such records upon demand by the
Management Committee.
(M) A register containing
the names of all players registered for each Club, with the date of
registration, shall be kept by the Registration Secretary and shall
be open to the inspection of any duly appointed Member Club
representative at all Management Committee meetings or at other times
mutually arranged.. Registrations are valid for one season only. In
the event of a player without a written contract changing his statues
to that of a contract player with the same Club, another Club in the
Competition or with a Club in another Competition his registration as
a player without a written contract will automatically be cancelled
and declared void. In order to play in the League again either for
his original Club or for another Club it will be necessary for him to
be re-registered as required by this Rule.
(N) A player shall not be
eligible to play for a team in any special championship, promotion or
relegation-deciding match (as specified in Rule 12(A)) unless the
player has played 2 games for that team in this Competition in the
current season. If the League Champions and Runners Up are to be
decided by the playing of a two legged final, then the two legs are
to be played as League Games.
(P)(i) Any team playing an
unregistered or otherwise ineligible player or players shall have the
points gained in the match deducted from its total and may be fined
and/or otherwise dealt with at the discretion of the Management
Committee.
(ii) In addition the team
may have relevant match points deducted from its total
at the discretion of the
Management Committee and may be dealt with in any further manner
which is thought to be fit.
(iii) The Management
Committee in exceptional circumstances may, at its discretion, award
any points deducted from a Club under this Rule to the opponents in
the match in question, subject to the match not being ordered to be replayed.
(The following Clause
applies to Competitions involving players in full-time secondary education):-
(Q) (i) Priority must be
given at all times to school and school organisations
activities.
(ii) The availability of
children must be cleared with the Head Teachers (except
for Sunday Leagues)
(iii) Children under 14
shall not play in a team involving players who
are more than 2 years older.
(R) "Where a club seeks to
register a player who, at the time of registration, is under the age
of 18, the consent of a parent or legal guardian of the player to
that player's registration must be obtained, and the consent must be
signified by that parent or legal guardian signing the appropriate
section of the League Player Registration Form, at the time that the
Form is completed prior to submission to the League Registration Secretary.
Where that consent is not indicated on the Form, the registration
will not be accepted by the League."
(Note: For players under the age
of 18 the provisions contained in Football Association Rules
will apply.)
CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME
9. (A) Every Club must
register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary by
The Annual General meeting who shall decide as to their suitability.
Goalkeepers must wear
colours, which distinguish them from other players and the referee.
No player, including the
goalkeeper, shall be permitted to wear black or very dark shirts.
Any team not being able to
play in its normal colours as registered with the Competition shall
notify the colours in which they will play to its opponents at least
7 days before the match.
If, in the opinion of the
referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the home team
shall make the change. Any team not having a change of colours or
delaying the kick-off by not having a change shall be fined
£25.00. (ALTHOUGH IT IS THE DUTY OF THE AWAY TEAM NOT TO CLASH
WITH THE HOME TEAMS COLOURS)
The Secretary of the
Competition may request shirts to be submitted if complaints are
received as to lack of distinguishing colours, and the Management
Committee may refuse to permit any shirts or shorts as they think fit.
Shirts must be numbered.
(B) Any Club wishing to
change its name and/or colours must seek permission from its
affiliated County Association and from the Management Committee.
PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS
OF PLAY TMES OF KICK-OFF. POSTPONEMENTS. SUBSTITUTES
10. (A) The Annual General
Meeting shall determine the commencing and concluding dates for the
ensuing season which shall be in accordance with Football Association Rules.
No Club shall be compelled to play after the concluding date.
Original fixtures arranged by the Referees/Fixture Secretary, or at a
meeting specially convened for that purpose, to be held no later than
31st May, must not be arranged for a date later than seven days
preceding the concluding date determined by the Annual General Meeting.
(B) All matches shall be
played in accordance with the Laws of the Game as determined by the
International Football Association Board.
Clubs must take all
reasonable precautions to keep their grounds in a playable condition.
All matches shall be played on pitches deemed suitable by the
Management Committee. If through any fault of the home team a match
has to be replayed, the Management Committee shall have power to
order the venue to be changed.
The Management Committee
shall have power to decide whether a pitch and/or facilities are
suitable for matches in the Competition and to order the Club
concerned to play its fixtures on another ground.
All matches shall have
duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less than
70minutes) is mutually arranged by the two captains in consultation
with the referee prior to the commencement of the match, and in any
event shall be of equal halves.
The times of kick-off shall
be fixed by the A.G.M. or the Management Committee. Any Club failing
to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding
£25.00 or be otherwise dealt with as the Management Committee
may determine.
Referees must order matches to
commence at the appointed time and must report all late starts to the Competition.
The home team must provide
at least two footballs fit for play and the referee shall make a
report to the Competition if the footballs are unsuitable. Goal nets
must be used.
(C) Except by permission of
the Management Committee all matches must be played on the dates
originally fixed but priority shall be given to The Football
Association and all relevant County Association Cup Competitions. All
other matches must be
considered secondary. Clubs may
mutually agree to bring forward a match with the consent of the
Referees/Fixture Secretary.
(D) The Secretary of the
home Club must give notice in writing of full particulars of the
location of, and access to, the ground and time of kick-off to the
match officials and the Secretary of the opposing Club at least 7
clear days prior to the playing of the match. The away Club
shall seek and acknowledge receipt of such particulars.
Any Club failing to comply
with this Rule shall be liable to a fine of £25.00
(E) Every Club shall play
its best available qualified team or teams in all matches in the Competition.
In the event of a Club
playing in any match with less than11 players they shall be fined
£10.00 for each missing player. A minimum of 7 players will
constitute a team for a Competition match.
(F) Home and away matches
shall be played. In the event of a Club failing to keep its
engagement the Management Committee shall have power to inflict a
fine, deduct points from the defaulting Club, order the defaulting
Club to pay any expenses incurred by the opponents or otherwise deal
with them except the award of goals. Not withstanding the
foregoing home and away provision, the Management Committee shall
have power to order a match to be played on a neutral ground or on
the opponent's ground if they are satisfied that such action is
warranted by the circumstances.
Any Club with more than one
team in the Competition shall always fulfil its fixture, within the
Competition, in the following order of precedence: - First Team,
Reserve Team, A Team. Clubs in breach of this requirement shall
be fined a sum not exceeding £10.00 or otherwise dealt with by
the Management Committee.
The postponing Club must
give notice of postponement of any match without delay. Such notice
must be given 72 hours prior to the match by the Club to the
Referees/Fixtures Secretary, the Secretary of the opposing Club and
the match officials. Any Club failing to comply shall be dealt with
by the Management Committee who may inflict any penalty it may deem suitable.
In the event of a match not
being played or abandoned owing to causes over which neither Club has
control, it shall be played in its entirety on a date to be mutually
agreed by the two Clubs and approved by the Management Committee.
Failing such agreement and notification to the Referees/Fixtures
Secretary within 14 days the Management Committee shall have power to
order the match to be played on a named date or on or before a given date.
The Management Committee
shall review all abandoned matches in cases where it is consequent
upon the conduct of either or both teams. Where it is to the
advantage of the Competition and does no injustice to either Club,
the Management Committee shall be empowered to order the score at the
time of the abandonment to stand. In all cases where the
Management Committee are satisfied that a match was abandoned owing
to the conduct of one team or its Club member(s) they shall be
empowered to award the points for the match to the opponent. In cases
where a match has been abandoned owing to the conduct of both teams
or their Club members, the Management Committee shall rule all points
for the match as void. No fine(s) can be applied by the Management
Committee for an abandoned match. Such action is subject to any
disciplinary action taken by the appropriate Affiliated Association.
(G) A Club may at its
discretion and in accordance with the Laws of the Game use 3
substitute players in any match in this Competition who may be
selected from 5 players.
The referee shall be
informed of the names of the substitutes not later than 30 minutes
before the start of the match.
A player who has been
selected, appointed or named as a substitute before the start of the
match but does not actually play in the game shall not be considered
to have been a player in that game within the meaning of Rule 8 of
this Competition.
(H) The half time interval
shall be of 15 minutes duration, but it shall not exceed fifteen
minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the consent
of the referee.
REPORTING RESULTS
11. (A) The Registration
Secretary must receive, within three working days of the date played,
the result of each competition match in the prescribed manner.
This must include the forename(s) and surname of the team players (in
block letters), together with the details of the expenses paid to
each of the match officials. Additionally, the Fixtures and
Referees Secretary must be advised of the result of the match in the
prescribed manner, together with the match officials' markings as
required by rule 13, and any other information required by the
Competition. Failure to supply the above information in the manner
prescribed will incur a fine of £25 and/or the club being dealt
with as the Management Committee decide.
(B) The Home Club shall
telephone/fax the result of each match to the Referees/Fixture
Secretary within 15 minutes of the match
(C) The match result
notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a responsible
member of the Club. The Management Committee shall have power
to take such action, as they deem suitable against a Club, which
submits an incomplete form or incorrect information.
DETERMINING CHAMPIONSHIP
12. (A) Team rankings within
the Competition will be decided by points with 3 points to be awarded
for a win and 1 point for a drawn match. The teams gaining the
highest number of points in their respective Divisions at the
conclusion shall be adjudged the winners. Matches must not be
played for double points.
In the event of two or more
teams being equal on points team rankings may be decided in any one
or more of the following ways: -
(i) goal difference
(ii) goals scored
.
REFEREES
13. (A) Registered Referees
and Assistant Referees for all matches shall be appointed in a manner
approved by the Management Committee and by the sanctioning Association(s).
(B) In the event of the
non-appearance of the appointed Referee the appointed senior
Assistant Referee shall take charge and a substitute Assistant
Referee appointed by the competing Teams. In cases where there
are no officially appointed Assistant Referees, the Clubs shall agree
upon a Referee. A Referee thus agreed upon shall, for
that game, have the full powers, status and authority of a registered Referee.
(C) The appointed Referee
shall have power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all
matches and the decision shall be final subject to either in the case
of a ground of a Local Authority or the owners of a ground, the
Representative of that body is the sole arbiter and whose decision
must be accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(D) Match Officials
appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard class
public transport expenses or private car expenses of .25pence per
mile and any other permitted expenses actually incurred together with
the following match fees: -
Referee, £30.00
Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as
Assistant Referees £18.00, subject to any limits laid down by
the sanctioning Association(s).
The Home Club shall pay the
Officials their fees and expenses immediately after the match.
(F) In the event of a match
not being played because of circumstances over which the Clubs have
no control, the Match Officials, if present, shall be entitled to
half fee plus expenses. Where a match is not played owing to one Club
being in default, that Club shall be ordered to pay the Officials, if
they attend the ground, their full fee and expenses.
(G) A Referee not keeping
his engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to
his non-appearance, may be reported to the Association with which he
is registered.
(H) Each Club shall, in a
manner prescribed from time to time by The Football Association,
award marks to the Referee for each match and the name of the Referee
and the marks awarded shall be submitted to the Competition on the
prescribed Form provided. Clubs failing to comply with this
Rule shall be liable to be fined or dealt with, as the Management
Committee shall determine.
The Competition shall keep a
record of the markings and, on the Form provided by the prescribed
date each season, shall submit a summary to The Football
Association/County Association.
(K) Referees and Assistant
Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of the
Competition Rules free of charge.
CONTINUATION OF MEMBERSHIP OR WITHDRAWAL OF A CLUB
14. (A) After 31st December
in the current Season a Club intending, or having a provisional
intention, to withdraw a team from the Competition on completion of
its fixtures and fulfilment of all other obligations to the
Competition must notify the Secretary in writing by 31st March each
Season or be liable to a fine not exceeding one seasons annual subscription
(B) A Club shall not be
allowed to withdraw any or all of its teams from the Competition
after the Annual General Meeting for the following Season. Any Club
infringing this Rule shall be liable to a fine not exceeding the
annual subscription per team and shall also be liable for its share
of any call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
(C) The Membership for the
coming season having been decided at the Annual General Meeting held
not later than 30th June the Competition shall have the right,
irrespective of other provisions in this Rule, to refuse to permit a
Club to withdraw its team(s) in order to join another Competition and
may hold the Club to its engagements
(D) In the event of a Member
Club which is an un-incorporated association withdrawing and/or
disbanding it shall be immediately liable to discharge all its
financial and other obligations to the Competition.
In the event that any such
obligation remains undischarged after a period of twenty-one (21)
days then such obligation shall be met by the then current Club
Members, excluding those under the statutory school leaving age.
Until a Member's pro rata obligation is discharged in full the Member
shall not be allowed to participate in the Competition, which may
apply to the Club's Parent County Association for a suspension order.
PROTESTS AND APPEALS
15. (A)(i) All questions of
eligibility, qualifications of players or interpretations of the
Rules shall be referred to the Management Committee.
(ii) Objections
relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other
facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management
Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the
commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such protest and
not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this
Rule and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.
(B) Except in cases where
the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances,
protests and complaints (which must contain full particulars of the
grounds upon which they are founded) must be lodged in duplicate with
the Secretary within 4 days (excluding Sundays) of the match or
occurrence to which they refer. A protest or complaint shall
not be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee.
A Member of the Management Committee who is a member of any Club
involved shall not be present (except as a witness or representative
of his Club) when such protest or complaint is being determined.
(C) Any dispute occurring
between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination
by the Management Committee whose decision shall be binding upon all
parties subject to Rule 16.
(D) No protest of whatever
kind shall be considered by the Management Committee unless the
complaining Club shall have deposited with the Secretary a sum of
£50.00. This may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event
of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case. The
Competition shall have power to order the defaulting Club or the Club
making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses
of the enquiry or to order that the costs to be shared by the parties.
(E) All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard and must have received 7 days notice of the hearing, together with a copy of the submission. When dealing with a protest or complaint the Management Committee shall take into consideration the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which, if properly used, might have avoided the protest or complaint.
BOARD OF APPEAL
16. Within 14 days of the
posting of written notification of any decision of the Management
Committee or the Competition, a Club, Official or Player against whom
action is taken may appeal against such decision by lodging
particulars in duplicate with the Secretary of the Lancashire
Football Association, including a fee of £40.00, for
adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds of an appeal to
an Appeals Board of The Football Association shall be made and be
conducted only in accordance with the Rules and Regulations of The
Football Association that relate to appeals to an Appeals Board as
are in force at any time. An appeal fee of £50.00 must be sent
with the appeal. The Board of Appeal may order the appeal fee to be
forfeited and shall decide by whom the costs of the appeal shall be borne.
The decision of the Board of Appeal is final and binding on all
parties concerned.
No appeal can be lodged against a decision taken at an Annual or Special General Meeting unless this is on the ground of unconstitutional conduct.
EXCLUSION OF CLUBS.OR TEAMS
MISCONDUCT, CLUBS, OFFICIALS, PLAYERS
17. (A) At the Annual
General Meeting, or Special General Meeting called for the purpose,
Notice of Motion having been duly circulated on the Agenda, the
accredited delegates present shall have the power to exclude any Club
or Team from further membership. Which must be supported by (more
than) two thirds(2/3) of those present and voting. Voting on this
point shall be conducted by ballot.
(B) At the Annual General
Meeting, or at a Special General Meeting called for the purpose, in
accordance with the provisions of Rule 19, the accredited delegates
present shall have the power to exclude from further participation in
the Competition any Club whose conduct has, in their opinion, been
undesirable, which must be supported by (more than) two-thirds
(2/3rds) of those present and voting. Voting on this point
shall be conducted by ballot. A Club whose conduct is the
subject of the vote being taken shall be excluded from voting.
(C) Any official or member
of a Club proved guilty of either a breach of Rule, other than field
offences, or of inducing or attempting to induce a player or players
of another Club in the Competition to join them shall be liable to
expulsion or such penalty as a General Meeting or Management
Committee may decide, and their Club shall also be liable to
expulsion in accordance with the provisions of Clauses (A) and (B) of
this Rule.
(D) Any Club or Team failing
to complete all_of its fixtures in any season shall (unless the
conditions are beyond their control, or the accredited delegates
present at the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting
decide otherwise by a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast) be
debarred from membership the following season.
TROPHY: - LEGAL OWNERS,
CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS.
18. (A) A Competition Cup or
Trophy shall be vested in the Association sanctioning the Competition
as Trustees. If a Competition were discontinued for any cause
the Cup or Trophy shall be returned to the Donor, if the conditions
attached to it so provide, or otherwise dealt with as the Association
may decide. At the close of each Competition awards may be made
to the winners and runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
The following agreement
shall be signed on behalf of the winners of the Cup or Trophy: -
"We
A_________________and B______________________, the Chairman and
Secretary of ________________________FC, members of and representing
the Club, having been declared winners of _____________________Cup or
Trophy, and it having been delivered to us by the Competition, do
hereby on behalf of the Club jointly and severally agree to return
the Cup or Trophy to the Competition Secretary on or before _____________________.
If the Cup or Trophy is lost or damaged whilst under our care we
agree to refund to the Competition the amount of its current value or
the cost of its thorough repair."
SPECIAL GENERAL MEETINGS
19. Upon receiving a
requisition signed by two-thirds of the Clubs in membership the
Secretary shall call a Special General Meeting.
The Management Committee may
call a Special General Meeting at any time.
At least 7 days notice shall
be given of either meeting under this Rule, together with an agenda
of the business to be transacted at such meeting.
Each Full Member Club shall be
empowered to send two delegates to all Special General Meetings.
Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only.
Any continuing Member Club
failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting without
satisfactory reason being given may be fined £50.00
Officers and Management
Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all Special
General Meetings.
All amendment of Rules can only
be implemented once approved by the appropriate sanctioning authority.
ALTERATION TO RULES
20. Alterations shall be made
to these Rules only at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special
General Meeting specially convened for the purpose called in
accordance with Rule 19. Any alteration made during the playing
season to the Rule relating to the qualification of players shall not
take effect until the following season.
Notice of proposed
alterations to be considered at the Annual General Meeting shall be
submitted to the Secretary by 24th April in each year. The proposals,
together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be
circulated to the Clubs by 08th May and any amendments thereto shall
be submitted to the Secretary by 15th May.
The proposals and proposed
amendments thereto shall be circulated to Clubs with the notice of
the Annual General Meeting. A proposal to change a Rule shall
be carried if two thirds [a majority] of those present and
entitled to vote are in favour.
A copy of the proposed
alterations to Rules to be considered at the Annual General Meeting
or Special General Meeting shall be submitted to the sanctioning
Football Association 28 days prior to the date of the meeting.
Any alterations or additions
decided upon at any meeting shall not become operative until the
approval of the Association issuing sanction shall have been obtained.
RULES BINDING ON CLUBS
21. Each Member Club shall be
deemed to have given its assent to the foregoing Rules and agreed to
abide by the decisions of the Management Committee subject to Rule 16.
Each Member Club must abide by any issued Football Association Code
of Conduct (Appendix 1).
FINANCE
22. (A) The Management
Committee shall determine with which bank or other financial
institution the funds of the
Competition will be lodged.
(B) All expenditure in
excess of £250.00 shall be approved by the Management Committee.
Cheques shall be signed by at least two Officers nominated by the
Management Committee.
(C) The financial year of
the Competition will end on 31st May
(D) The books, or a
certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and shall
be verified annually by some suitable person who shall be appointed
at the Annual General Meeting.
CHILD PROTECTION
1. Any act, statement,
conduct or other matter, which harms a child or children, or poses or
may pose a risk of harm to a child or children, shall constitute
behaviour, which is improper and brings the game into disrepute.
2. In these Regulations the
expression "Offence" shall mean any one or more of the
offences contained in Schedule 1 to the Children and Young Persons
Act 1933 and any other criminal offence which reasonably causes The
Association to believe that the person accused of the offence poses
or may pose a risk of harm to a child or children.
3. Upon receipt by The
Association of:
3.1 notification that an
individual has been charged with an Offence; or
3.2 notification that an
individual is the subject of an investigation by the
Police, Social Services
or any other authority relating to an Offence; or
3.3 any other
information, which causes The Association reasonably to believe
that a person poses or
may pose a risk of harm to a child or children then
The Association shall
have the power to order that the individual be
suspended from all or
any specific football activity for such period and on
such terms and
conditions as it thinks fit.
4. In reaching its
determination as to whether an order under Regulation 3 should be
made The Association shall give consideration, inter alia, to the
following factors:
4.1 whether a child is or
children are or may be at risk of harm;
4.2 whether the matters
are of a serious nature;
4.3 whether an order is
necessary or desirable to allow the conduct of any
investigation by The
Association or any other authority or body to proceed
unimpeded.
5. The period of an order
referred to in 3 above shall not be capable of lasting beyond the
date upon which any charge under the Rules of The Association or any
Offence is decided or brought to an end.
6. Where an order is imposed
on an individual under regulation 3 above, The Association shall
bring and conclude any proceedings under the Rules of The Association
against the person relating to the matters as soon as reasonably practicable.
7. Where a person is
convicted, or is made the subject of a caution in respect of an
Offence, that shall constitute a breach of the Rules of The
Association and The Association shall have the power to order the
suspension of the person from all or any specific football activity
for such a period (including indefinitely) and on such terms and
conditions as it thinks fit.
8. For the purposes of these
Regulations, The Association shall act through its Council or any
committee or sub-committee thereof, including the Board.
9. Notification in writing of
an order referred to above shall be given to the person concerned
and/or any club with which he is associated as soon as reasonably practicable.