With the introduction of the new version of Office called “Microsoft Office 2007” it has been highlighted that files saved and sent by Referees when reporting misconduct in this new software can’t be opened by Office 2003 because of the .xlsx extension placed at the end of the completed reports.
Could all Referees please ensure that files are saved in the correct version of Office; to do this, just go to the Office button, select “save as” and then “save as type” “Excel 97-2003 Workbook”.
Match Instructions for Club Assistant Referees
Club Assistant Referees should report to the Referee before the game equipped with a suitable flag, and the referee will then indicate if his requirements are as the following recommended instruction or any change he may require.
Run your opponents right wing in both halves.
Run with the second rearmost defender at all times.
Indicate when an attacker is in an offside position but please consider if the attacker is interfering with play (e.g. an attacker on the left wing should not be signalled offside if the ball is passed to another attacker on the right wing). Please note that the decision regarding offside is at all times made by the referee on the advise of the linesman. If the referee decides not to give offside, he will acknowledge the Club Assistant Referee's signal and the Club Assistant Referee's should then lower his flag.
Touch line - Ball out of play. Indicate when the whole of the ball crosses the touch line, either on the ground or in the air, and indicate which side is entitled to the throw. If the Club Assistant Referee is uncertain about the direction of the throw, he should raise his flag straight in the air and the referee will indicate the direction of the throw.
Goal Line - Ball out of play. Indicate that the ball is out of play. For goal-kick check that the ball is within the goal area. For corner kicks check that the ball is totally within the quarter circle. Please stand behind the corner flag for all corner kicks - you will then be in an ideal position to judge ball in or out of play.
Fouls and misconduct are the prerogative of the Referee and Club Assistant Referee must make no indications whatever. If the Referee misses a Club Assistant Referee's signal and play continues the linesman should lower his flag and immediately resume his position level with the second rearmost defender. The running of the game of football is very much a team job between the referee and his two Club Assistant Referee's. It is an important job and if carried out in the proper manner the game will be better enjoyed by the players and the match officials. Please remember that it is the Club Assistant Referee's duty to assist the referee, but it should also be remembered that only the Referee makes decisions - the Club Assistant Referee's function is always to advise.
Advice on Disciplinary Procedures
The objective of this document is to remind Referees of their duties related to Misconduct as set out in Law 5 of ‘The Laws of Association Football' and to assist Referees when they are called to attend Personal Hearings.
The Referee's duty related to Misconduct:
• The Referee will report to the appropriate Authority Misconduct, or any Misdemeanour on the part of Players, Substitutes, Officials, Spectators or other persons, which take place either on the Field of Play or in its vicinity, at any time prior to, during or after the match in question, so that appropriate action can be taken by the Authority concerned.
The Laws of Association Football require two things of the Referee whenever he ‘cautions' a player, ‘sends off' a player, or observes other forms of misconduct:
The Referee must report the incident, he/she must not exercise his/her discretion.
The Referee must compile a report and send it to the appropriate Authority within the stipulated time.
Remember it is an offence to issue a Caution, Sending Off or Report a Player/Club Official and not submit an Official Report to the appropriate Association. Failure to do so may result in the Match Official being charged himself/herself.
Misconduct reports must always be submitted in duplicate or via email: Discipline@WiltshireFA.com
The compilation of Misconduct Reports can and does present problems for many Referees. You are advised to read thoroughly the FA booklet, ‘Guide to Misconduct Report Writing'.
The following advice is offered to Referees who are asked to attend a Personal Hearing:
If you, as Referee, are under 18 years of age, arrange for your Mentor or Parent/Guardian to accompany you and inform the Wiltshire FA Disciplinary Secretary
Take a copy of your Misconduct Report and your ‘Match Record Card' with you. Recall match incidents from memory.
Your ‘Personal Appearance' is important and will provide the Disciplinary Commission with a ‘first impression' of your credibility as to a witness for the Personal Hearing. Be a credit to yourself and to your Referee colleagues.
Arrive in plenty of time and use the room provided for you on arrival. Thus to ensure you do not make contact with players/persons also attending the Commission.
Make yourself known to the Disciplinary Usher; inform the County of your intended mileage/expenses for Travelling purposes. This should also be confirmed when completing and returning the form to accept your attendance.
Where you have been requested to attend a case of ‘Assault' the Disciplinary Secretary will ensure your safety and, should there be the need, ensure you are safely escorted from the premises. This also applies to any Personal Hearing where you feel you may have a problem with an individual or club.
When you are in front of the Disciplinary Commission answer all questions ‘factually'. Do not over elaborate or change the content of your report if you feel ‘under pressure'. You and your report are the only evidence against the player/person.
Remain co-operative throughout the Hearing. The final decision taken by the Disciplinary Commission will be their judgement of the evidence presented and NOT your ability as Referee on the field of play. You are a witness for the Football Association and NOT on trial.
• A player who uses ‘Offensive, Insulting or Abusive language' and / or ‘Gestures' does not constitute a cautionable offence.
Personal Hearing Procedures
Upon receiving a Misconduct Report Form from a Referee, the Disciplinary Secretary or a member of the Administration Staff will acknowledge receipt of the report by returning blank forms to the Referee.
The Misconduct Report Form, together with the appropriate Wiltshire FA Form(s) are forwarded to the Secretary of the player(s) / person(s) Club for their attention.
A player is not permitted to request a Personal Hearing in respect of an individual Caution, except in the case of a claim of mistaken identity. However, a player or person has the right to a Personal Hearing in respect of a sending off offence, or, where he has been charged with Misconduct, likely to bring the game into disrepute.
The date, time and venue for a Personal Hearing will be notified to both the player's / person's Club and to the Referee. If, for some reason, the Referee is unable to attend on a specific date, or a specific time, he must inform the Wiltshire FA Disciplinary Secretary immediately and confirmation is required in writing, that he is unable to attend, stating the reasons why he is unable to attend. If you are attending your first Personal Hearing contact the Disciplinary Secretary and he will explain the procedures or refer to your County Handbook for a full overview of procedures.
Failure to carry out this procedure and/or not attending a Disciplinary Commission may result in the Referee being called before the Referees' Committee and/or Disciplinary Commission having been charged with misconduct under FA Rule.
The Disciplinary Department have the right to upgrade or downgrade a Referee's Misconduct Report, which, in such circumstances, will be notified to the Referee concerned.
The Report as a communication
The Misconduct Report communicates information:
It gives the Referee's account of an incident involving Misconduct by a single person or a group of people. It serves as communication between:
The Referee and the County Football Association
The Referee and Player/Person reported for misconduct
The Referee and a Club
The Referee and a Disciplinary Commission of a County Football Association
The Referee and an Appeal Board of the Football Association
It is important that the report is well written, accurate, brief and clear, leaving the reader of the report in no doubt as to when and where the alleged incident occurred and what action the Referee took as a result of the alleged misconduct by the person(s) concerned.
There will be action and reaction as a result of the report; therefore, the report should contain FACT and not OPINION.
The importance of a well-written report:
• There is less likelihood of injustice occurring.
• A service has been properly performed for the Disciplinary Commission or Appeal Board, which may have to deal with the report.
• The standing of Referees may be enhanced by the quality of Misconduct Reports.
• The Referee indicates that he intends to be as efficient off the Field of Play as he is on it.
Offences
Referees are required to submit reports, which contain details of Misconduct relating to:
Sending Off Offences
Cautionable Offences
Misconduct by players after the match has ended or when they are off the Field of Play, having been sent off, substituted or awaiting to be sent on as a substitute
Misconduct by Club Officials
Misconduct by Spectators
The Report
A Referee should ensure that information required on the Misconduct Report Form is accurate and in full, without abbreviations. Only one copy of all Caution Reports are required, but for Sending Off and Disreputes two are required. If the report is photocopied it must be copied on both sides.
It is important that the utmost care is taken to correctly state:
The complete names of the competing clubs (as indicated in the County Handbook).
The full name of the competition.
The venue and date of the match.
The full name of the player (or person/s) concerned, along with the name of his club.
Your Full Name and Referee Registration number.
The Referee's address (the ‘copy' is sent to the offending player, if you do not wish to disclose your address to the offending player, put your correct registration number on the report).
The date on which the report is compiled.
Conclusion
Summary of Misconduct Report Writing Procedure:
Make sure the ‘standard entries' are completed correctly
Make sure the offences for which the player has been either Cautioned or Sent Off is correctly indicated
Report the incident accurately, briefly and clearly. Do not include irrelevant details or erroneous information
The following points may be of relevance and help build a general picture:
The time the incident took place
The position on the field of play the incident took place
As Referee, your position and distance from the incident
The question of provocation and/or retaliation and/or repetition of offences by one player
The report should be presented in the most eligible manner
Either check, or have the report checked by someone else, especially for spelling mistakes
Misconduct Reports MUST be posted to the relevant County Football Association by FIRST CLASS POST within the stipulated time.