DISCIPLINARY GUIDELINES & PROCEDURES
 
1. Union Disciplinary Tribunal
 
1.1 Jurisdiction
1.1.1
 The Union shall set up a Union Disciplinary Tribunal ("the Tribunal"), which shall have power to act in the name of the Union to hear and determine disciplinary proceedings within its jurisdiction in the following circumstances:
a
 where a player is sent off the playing enclosure
b
 where a player is cited for foul play
c
 where a player is required to appear before the Tribunal under the Sin Bin or Red/Yellow Card procedures.
 
1.2 Composition of the Tribunal
1.2.1
 The Union Disciplinary Tribunal will consist of a Chairman and two other members. No member of the same Club as the person against whom disciplinary proceedings are taken, the victim player or a complainant shall be a member of the Tribunal, which hears and determines those disciplinary proceedings and shall not attend the hearing.
 
2. Procedures following a Sending Off
 
2.1 Reporting Procedures
2.1.1
 Where a player is sent off the playing enclosure in a match, the Referee shall, within 24 hours of the completion of the match, or such further time as is necessary in the circumstances, send to the relevant parties a written report incorporating:
a
 the date of the match, the venue and the teams participating
b
 the name of the player sent off and his team
c
 the circumstances in which the player was sent off
 
d
 the reason for the player being sent off
 
e
 any other information the Referee considers material
2.1.2
 SENDING OFF FORM should be used by the Referee for the purpose of a Report under this Rule. The Secretary of the Union will keep records of all the reports.
2.1.3
 If a player is sent off the playing enclosure as a result of the intervention of a Touch Judge, the Touch Judge shall send to the relevant parties a written report incorporating the matters referred to above, within the time prescribed by that Rule.
 
2.2 Notice to player
2.2.1
 The player sent off shall be supplied with a copy of the Referee's Report prior to the hearing and where applicable the Touch Judge's Report by the Secretary of the Union and advised:
a
 of the date, place and time of the Tribunal meeting at which the disciplinary proceedings against him will be heard
b
 that he will be required to attend in person at the meeting
c
 that if he is unable to appear at the meeting notified he should advise the Secretary of the Union forthwith.
 
3. Disciplinary Hearings
 
3.1. Procedure
3.1.1
 The procedure at hearings of the Tribunal will be as follows:
a
 the Chairman will explain the procedure to be followed
b
 the player will be asked to confirm that prior to the meeting he has been supplied with and had sufficient opportunity to consider the Referee's Report and, where applicable, the report of the Touch Judge
c
 the Referee's Report and, where applicable, the Touch Judge's Report will be read
 
d
 evidence from the sent off player if he elects to give evidence and from any witnesses to be called will be heard
 
e
 submissions will be heard
3.1.2
 In the event the Tribunal accepts videotape evidence, where possible the videotape should be viewed prior to the Referee's Report being read and without the sound or commentary associated with it being heard.
3.1.3
 Failure to follow the procedures outlined will not invalidate the proceedings.
 
3.2. Powers of Adjournment
3.2.1
 The Tribunal shall have power to postpone or adjourn a meeting at which disciplinary proceedings are to be heard, to such dates and time, as it seems fit. The Tribunal shall endeavour to ensure that disciplinary proceedings are not heard in the absence of the player or person subject of the proceedings but nothing in this Rule or otherwise shall prevent a Tribunal hearing and determining disciplinary proceedings in the absence of the player or person concerned where the player or person elects not to attend the hearing.
 
3.3. Attendance and Report of Referee
3.3.1
 The Referee who sent off the player shall, unless exceptional circumstances prevent him, attend the meeting of the Tribunal. The absence of the referee shall not, however, prevent the Tribunal hearing and determining disciplinary proceedings.
 
3.4. Interpreters
3.4.1
 Where in any case the Tribunal considers it necessary or desirable it may direct the Union to have an interpreter present at a hearing.
 
3.5. Questioning of witnesses
3.5.1
 Where evidence is given before the Tribunal there shall be no direct questioning of any witness. Questions may however be put to a witness through the Chairman of the Tribunal at the Chairman's discretion.
 
3.6. Evidence
3.6.1
 The Tribunal shall be entitled to receive such evidence as it thinks fit.
 
3.7. Attendance of witnesses
3.7.1
 The Tribunal may require the attendance at the meeting of any witness. In any case where a witness required by the Tribunal to attend the meeting refuses or fails to so attend, the Tribunal may refuse to allow the evidence of that witness to be given in any other form.
 
3.8. Representation
3.8.1
 All persons or parties entitled to be heard by the Tribunal may be represented by another person if they so wish.
 
3.9. Deliberations
3.9.1
 The Tribunals deliberations on its Decisions shall be in private.
 
3.10. Notification of Decision
3.10.1
 The Decision of the Tribunal shall be advised to all parties as soon as practicable after the conclusion of the hearing. Where it considers it appropriate, the Tribunal may deliver a short oral Decision and confirm this in writing at a later date or it may reserve its Decision.
3.10.2
 All parties heard by the Tribunal shall be entitled to a copy of the written Decision of the Tribunal which shall be sent to them by the Secretary of the Union within 48 hours after it is available.
3.10.3
 In any case where a player is adversely affected by a Decision of the Tribunal he shall be advised by the Tribunal of his right of appeal to the Union's Appeal Tribunal.
3.10.4
 As soon as practicable after the Decision of the Tribunal is available, the Secretary of the Union shall notify the Player's Club of the Decision and the right of appeal available to the player. The Secretary of the Union shall also notify the Referees' Society of the Tribunal's Decision.
 
4. Sin Bin / Yellow Cards Procedures
 
4.1. Preamble
4.1.1
 This paragraph 4 of the Disciplinary Guidelines and Procedures contains the "Sin Bin" or "Yellow Card procedures" referred to in paragraph 1.1.1(c) above.
 
4.2. Three Yellow Cards in Twelve Months Period
4.2.1
 A player who receives three yellow cards during a twelve months period shall be suspended automatically for one competitive match, being the match next following the receipt of the third yellow card.
4.2.2
 This suspension is automatic. There is no need for any action by the Tribunal.
 
4.3. Six Yellow Cards in Twelve Months Period
4.3.1.
 A player who receives six yellow cards during a twelve months period shall be required to appear before the Tribunal.
4.3.2
 The purpose of the player appearing before the Tribunal is for the Tribunal to determine whether any further penalty should be imposed upon the player by reason of the player's persistent foul play.
4.3.3.
 The hearing before the Tribunal will follow the same general procedure as set out in paragraph 3 above. Without limiting the generality of this, the Tribunal shall be entitled to call for and receive such evidence as it thinks fit, including the relevant Sin Binning and/or caution reports from the match officials.
 
4.4. Yellow Cards Already Taken Into Account by Tribunal
4.4.1.
 If a player is sent off by reason of having received two yellow cards in one match, and if that player appears before the Tribunal as a result of that sending off, and if the Tribunal deals with that sending off incident, then the two yellow cards in question will not be counted for the purposes of any computation or action under either paragraphs 4.2 or 4.3 above.
 
HKSRFUR SENDING OFF REPORT
 
 
Last Updated on 29 October 2003