Directives

16. Reporting of Misconduct

2008/09 Directives

Misconduct reports for The FA Challenge Cup (1st Round Proper onwards – 4Q where a Conference National team is involved), The FA Premier League, The Football League, The Football Conference, National Division and the FA Trophy where a Football Conference National Division Team is involved are to be submitted by the Referee to the Football Association as follows:

Telephone: 08001 382615 by 12 noon day following game

Misconduct reported by the Referee on The Panel Competitions are to be notified to The Football Association as follows:

Telephone: 08001 382615

• Whether anything has been brought to his attention which he had not seen during the match and if so by whom 
• Whether or not there will be reports from the assistant referees, or fourth official – if so who and why 
• Whether or not there will be a report from the match assessor or delegate – if so why 
• Whether there was anything not fully seen by the match officials and not acted upon which he considers The Football Association should review

The Referee will be required to confirm that there have been no other incidents witnessed by the MOs first hand.

If the Fourth Official replaces or takes over from the match referee, he must inform PA of any disciplinary action that he takes as the replacement referee, clearly indicating to PA that he was originally the Fourth Official.

Assistant Referees, Fourth Officials and Match Assessors or Delegates must confirm with the Referee the requirement to submit reports.

In general Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials will be required to telephone misconduct reports to The Football Association on 08001 382615 by noon the day after the match in the following circumstances:

• Where they have instigated a caution or a dismissal Where offensive, abusive or insulting language and/or gestures are made to any assistant referee or fourth official after the game has been completed Where acts of misconduct occur towards the Assistant Referee or Fourth Official after the game has been completed
• Match Assessors will be required to telephone reports to The Football Association on 08001 382615 by 12 noon on the day after the match in the following circumstance
• Where they have witnessed an incident, not seen by the match officials, which they subsequently bring to the referee’s attention post-match

Match Assessors will be required to telephone reports to The Football Association on 08001 382615 by 12 noon on the day after the match in the following circumstance

• Where they have witnessed an incident, not seen by the match officials, which they subsequently bring to the referee’s attention post-match

Referees, Assistant Referees and Fourth Officials must submit to The Association by 12 noon on the day following match reports of extraordinary incidents and provide a description of any incident they witnessed.  If a Match Official believes that an extraordinary incident has taken place which they did not witness, a report confirming that they witnessed nothing at first hand must be submitted within the same timescales.

Codes Required for Disciplinary Offences:

Caution Codes

• C1 Unsporting Behaviour 
• C2 Shows dissent by word or action 
• C3 Persistently infringes the Laws of  the Game 
• C4 Delays the restart of Play 
• C5 Fails to respect the required  distance at a restart 
• C6 Enters or Re-enters the Field of  Play without the Referees  permission 
• C7 Deliberately leaves the Field of  Play without the Referees  permission

FA Codes for Unsporting Behaviour

• AA Adopting an aggressive attitude 
• DI Simulation 
• DP Dangerous Play 
• FT Foul Tackle 
• GC Goal Celebration 
• HB Handball 
• RP Reckless Play 
• SP Pushing or Pulling an opponent 
• TR Tripping 
• UB Other unspecified Unsporting  Behaviour

Sending Off Codes

• S1 Serious Foul Play
• S2 Violent Conduct 
• S3 Spits at an opponent or any  other person 
• S4 Denies the opposing team a goal  or an obvious goal-scoring  opportunity by deliberately  handling the ball 
• S5 Denies an obvious goal-scoring  opportunity to an opponent  moving towards the player’s goal  by an offence punishable by a  free kick or a penalty kick 
• S6 Uses offensive or insulting or  abusive language and/or  gestures 
• S7 Receives a second caution in the  same game

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