League Rules
LEAGUE COMPETITION RULES
NOMENCLATURE AND CONSTITUTION
1. (A)
This Competition shall be designated the Ilford & District Football League
and known as the Ilford & District Football League and shall consist of not
more than forty eight Clubs approved by the sanctioning authority.
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 Essex County Football Association. The
area covered by the Competition Membership shall be Ilford and adjacent areas.
This
Competition shall apply annually for sanction to the Essex County Football
Association(s) and the constituent teams of Member Clubs may be grouped in
divisions, each not exceeding fourteen in number.
Member
Clubs shall not enter any of their teams playing in the Competition in any
other Competitions (with the exception of F.A. and County F.A. Competitions)
except with the written consent of the Management Committee of the Competition.
(B)
At the Annual General Meeting or a Special General Meeting called for the
purpose, a majority of the delegates present shall have power to decide or
adjust the compilation of the divisions at their discretion. When necessary
this Rule shall take precedence over Rule 12.
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 £50.00 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 £95.00 per Team payable on or before the 31st
July in each year.
(C)
Each Club shall within 14 days of election
pay a Deposit of £50.00 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.
The
Entry Fee specified in Rule 2(A) shall be the deposit.
(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 1st July
of its appropriate County Football Association affiliation number for the
forthcoming Season, failing which they shall be fined £25.00. 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.
This information to be supplied by the date of the League’s Annual General
Meeting.
OFFICERS
3. The
Officers of the Competition shall be the President, Life Vice-Presidents,
Vice-Presidents, Life Members, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Treasurer, Secretary, Registration & Results Secretary, Fixture
Secretary, Referees Secretary Disciplinary Secretary, Press Secretary, Cup
Secretary, Publication Secretary and Minutes Secretary to be elected annually
at the Annual General Meeting. (N.B. Auditors/Verifiers 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 five members who shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. All
Participants shall abide by The Football Association Regulations for
Safeguarding Children as determined by The Association from time to time.
Not
more that 2 of the five members shall be from the same Division.
(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 May 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 at least quarterly.
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.
(F)
The Council of the League shall comprise of the Management Committee and one
representative of each Member club. Management Committee members may represent
their Club. The Council will meet on dates specified by the Management
Committee.
Al
Club failing to be represented at Council meetings shall be fined £25.00 and
failure to be represented at two consecutive Council meetings without
satisfactory reason being given, shall be further dealt with by the Management
Committee with a further fine being imposed not exceeding £50.00.
POWERS OF MANAGEMENT
5. (A) The
Management Committee may appoint sub-committees and delegate such of their
powers as they deem necessary. The decisions of all sub- 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 Essex 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 or where there may be a conflict of interest. (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.
With
the exception of Rules 5(I), 6(H), 10(A), 11 and 19, for all breaches of Rule a
formal written charge must be issued. The respondent shall be given seven days
from the date of notice to reply to the charge and given the opportunity to:-
(i)
Accept
or deny the charge
(ii)
Submit
in writing a case of mitigation, or
(iii)
Put their case before the
Management Committee.
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 FA 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 in accordance with Rule 16.
Decisions
of the Management Committee must be notified in writing to those concerned
within 14 days.
(F)
Seven Members of the Management Committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business of the Management Committee
and three 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.
Any
Club failing to do so will be fined a maximum of £50. Further failure to pay
the fine including the additional sum within 14 days will result in fixtures
being withdrawn until such time as the outstanding payments are settled.
(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.
(L)
The business of the Competition as determined by the Management Committee may
be transacted by electronic mail or facsimile.
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 75% 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 audited
Balance Sheet, Statement of Accounts and Agenda shall be forwarded to each Club
at least fourteen days prior to the meeting, and to the Essex County Football
Association.
(C)
A signed copy of the duly audited
Balance Sheet and Statement of Accounts shall be sent to the Essex County
Football Association within fourteen days of its adoption by the Annual General
Meeting.
(D)
Each Member Club shall be
empowered to send two delegates to an Annual General Meeting. Each Club shall
be entitled to one vote only. Fourteen 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.
(F)
All voting shall be conducted by a show of voting cards unless a ballot be
demanded by at least 50% 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 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 Ilford
& District Football League 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 appropriate County Football Association(s) to which the Club is
affiliated and to the Secretary of the Competition.
(Note:
The spaces above are intended for the inclusion of the signatures and addresses
of officers and members).
QUALIFICATION OF PLAYERS
8. (A)(i)
Contract players, as defined in Football Association Rules, are not permitted
in this Competition. A contract player may only play for the Club that
holds his contract.
It
is the responsibility of each Club to ensure that any Player signing a
registration form for that Club has, where necessary, the required
International Transfer Certificate. Clearance is required for any player aged
12 and over crossing borders including Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
(ii) While serving in any branch of
Her Majesty’s Regular Forces, a player must first obtain the consent of his/her
Association Secretary before signing a registration form to play for a Club.
(B) A
registered playing member of a Club is one who, being in all other respects
eligible, has:-
(i) 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 two days prior to
playing and whose completed registration counterfoil has been received by the
Club prior to playing.
(ii)
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 witnessed
by an Officer of the opposing Club, and submitted to the Registrations
Secretary within two days (Sundays excluded) subsequent to the match. The
player shall not again play until the Club is in possession of the completed
counterfoil. A maximum of 5 players may be registered in this way.
Registration forms may also be
submitted to the Registrations Secretary by facsimile machine or electronic
mail prior to the player playing. The original document must be forwarded by
post within three days of the match to the appropriate Officer.
(C) A team
shall not include more than three players who has/have taken part in any one or
more senior competition matches during the current season unless a period of 28
days has elapsed since they played.
For
the purpose of this Competition a senior competition(s) is Step 7 and above of
the National League System.
(D) 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.
(E)
Registration forms shall be obtained from the Registrations Secretary.
Each
team will be issued with 30 Registration Forms.
(F)
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 Registrations Secretary shall
notify the Club last applying to register the player of the fact of the
previous registration.
(G)
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.
(H)
(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, except those under 18 years
of age, 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 or
cancel 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
conduct shall mean an incident of 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.
(I)
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 £1.00. 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 seven 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.
(J) A
player may not be registered for a Club nor transferred to another Club in the
Competition after 28th February except by special permission of the
Management Committee.
(K) 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.
(L) A
register containing the names of all players registered for each Club, with the
date of registration, shall be kept by the Registrations 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 status 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.
(M) 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 three games
for that team in this Competition in the current season.
(N) A
player who has taken part in six or more league and/or cup fixtures within the
Ilford & District Football League for his Club’s first team during the
current season shall be deemed a first team player unless 28 days has elapsed
since he last played for the Club’s first team. Not more than four qualified
first team players may play for the Club’s second team or lower in any one
match.
(O) (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 up to three 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 may, at its discretion, award the points available in
the match in question to the opponents, subject to the match not being ordered
to be replayed.
(The
following Clause applies to Competitions involving players in full-time
secondary education):-
(P) (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)
To play open age football the player must have achieved the age of 16.
(Q) Checks on
players' eligibility may be carried out by any League Officer who attends any
Ilford & District League controlled match. Players and substitutes of each
Club shall be requested to provide names and signatures of all players that
took part in the match. These names and signatures shall then be submitted to
the League Registration Secretary for authentication. Clubs shall be
responsible for their players' actions, and any refusal to comply when
requested will deem the offending 'club member' guilty of misconduct, and they
shall be dealt with by the Management Committee as if they had played an
unregistered player. Any irregularity found by the League Registration
Secretary in checking the submitted names and signatures shall be dealt with by
the League Management Committee as provided by the Rules of this Competition.
(R) In the
event of a Club or Official questioning the individual identity of a player of
the opposing team, they shall IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE MATCH request that player
to provide his name and signature. Clubs shall be responsible for their players
actions and any refusal to complete the form, when requested, will deem the
offending player and Club guilty of misconduct. These names and signatures form
shall be submitted to the League Secretary within FOUR days of the match as
part of any protest (Rule15) for adjudication by the League Management
Committee. If any irregularity is found, the matter will be dealt with by the
League Management Committee as provided by the Rules of this Competition on
player eligibility (Rule 8).
CLUB COLOURS. CLUB NAME
9. (A)
Every Club must register the colour of its shirts and shorts with the Secretary
by 1st July 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 five days before the match.
If,
in the opinion of the referee, two Clubs have the same or similar colours, the
away 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 £10.00.
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. These numbers must be 1 to 18 unless agreed by the Management
Committee. Clubs in default of this
section of the Rule shall be fined £10.00.
(B) Any
Club wishing to change its name must obtain permission from its affiliated
County Association and from the Management Committee.
Any
Club wishing to change its colours must obtain permission from the Management
Committee.
PLAYING SEASON. CONDITIONS OF PLAY
TIMES 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 Fixtures Secretary, or at a meeting specially convened
for that purpose, to be held no later than 1st September, must not
be arranged for a date later than seven days preceding the concluding date.
Any
Club failing to be represented at a fixture meeting or otherwise infringing
this Rule shall be liable for a fine of £20.00 and the Management Committee or
the Fixtures Secretary shall arrange that Club’s fixtures.
In
the event of the original fixtures being arranged by the Fixture Secretary,
he/she shall determine the priority of all fixtures played by Member Clubs,
subject to the provisions of Rule 10(C).
Clubs
shall supply the Fixture Secretary with a list of dates for fixtures on a form
supplied by the League. The form to be returned completed to the Fixture
Secretary on or before 1st August. Failure to return this form will
result in a fine of £5.00 plus an additional fine of 50p per day thereafter
that the form is not returned.
Any
Club requiring a postponement of a fixture or unable to play a fixture on a
date shown on the form submitted must notify the Fixture Secretary at least 28
days before the date on which the postponement is required. Failure to do so
will be dealt with under Rule 10(F).
In
the event of the team being required to play double header fixtures, the first
named team on the fixture list shall be deemed the home side and subject to all
home team provisions in the Rules, and the second named team shall be deemed
the away team and subject to all away team provisions in the Rules.
(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 a duration of 90 minutes unless a shorter time (not less
than 60 minutes) 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 Management Committee. Any Club failing
to commence at the appointed time may be fined a sum not exceeding £10.00 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. Failure
to comply will result in a fine of £10.00.
Goal nets must be used and suitably anchored to the
ground. Regulation corner posts must be used. Clubs in default shall be fined
£10.00.
(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 Fixtures Secretary.
In
the case of a revised fixture date, the Clubs must be given by the Competition
5 clear days notice of the match (unless otherwise mutually agreed).
(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 five 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 £30.00.
(E)
In the event of a Club playing in any match with less than 10 players they may
be fined £10.00 for each missing player. A minimum of 8 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, award the points from the match in
question to the opponents, 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 £40.00 or otherwise dealt with by the Management Committee.
Any
Club unable to fulfil a fixture must, without delay, give notice to the
Fixtures Secretary, the Competition Referees
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 a fine. In addition the Press Secretary, Results & Registration
Secretary and League Secretary must be notified. Any Club failing to comply
shall be dealt with by the Management Committee who may inflict a fine.
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 Fixtures Secretary within seven 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 matches abandoned 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 member(s), 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.
(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 five
players.
The
referee shall be informed of the names of the substitutes not later than five 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 ten minutes duration, but it shall not
exceed fifteen minutes. The half time interval may only be altered with the
consent of the referee.
(I)
Not in use.
REPORTING RESULTS
11. (A) The
Registration& Results Secretary must receive within four 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)
and also the Referee markings required by Rule 13, or any other information
required by the Competition. Failure to do so will incur a fine of £10.00
and/or the Club being dealt with as the Management Committee decide.
(B)
The Home Club shall telephone/notify the result of each match to the Press
Secretary by 6 p.m. Clubs in default shall be fined.
(C)
The match result notification, correctly completed, shall be signed by a
responsible member of the Club. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £10.00.
NB.
If the fixed penalty exceeds £20 the Club must be charged as detailed in Rule
5(D).
DETERMINING
CHAMPIONSHIP
12. (A)
Team rankings within the Competition will be decided by points with three points
to be awarded for a win and one 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 shall be decided
in the following order:-
(i)
goal difference
(ii) goals scored
(B)
Automatic promotion and relegation shall be applied for the first two and
last two teams in each Division except as provided for hereunder, subject to
the provisions of Rule 1(b).
(i) Should
one or more teams withdraw from any one Division after the fixtures have
commenced an equal number of teams to those withdrawing in that Division shall
not be automatically relegated.
(ii)
Vacancies occurring after the conclusion of the season may be filled on any of
the following ways:
(a) retention of otherwise relegated team(s)
(b) additional promotion of the next ranked team(s)
from the Division below
(c) election
(iii)
Not in use.
(iv)
When a senior team is relegated to a lower Division of which its reserve team
is a member, or entitled to be a member, such reserve team must accept
relegation to, or retain its position in, the next lower Division; and should
the senior team be relegated to the lowest Division its reserve team
automatically retires from the Competition.
(v)
Should either or both of the leading teams in any of the Divisions have its
senior team in the next higher Division, promotion shall fall, at the
discretion of the General Meeting, to the next highest team or teams in the
Division concerned.
(C)
In the event of a team not completing 75% of its fixtures for the season all
points obtained by or recorded against such defaulting team shall be expunged
from the Competition table.
Where a team
withdraws having completed 75% of its fixtures the points for any unplayed
games shall be awarded to the defaulting team's opponents.
(D) Not
in use.
REFEREES
13. (A)
Registered Referees (and Assistant Referees where approved by the FA or County
FA) 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, or where the competition has been unable to
appoint a Referee, 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)
Where Assistant Referees are not appointed each Team shall provide a Club
Assistant Referee. Failure to do so will result in a fine of £0.00 being
imposed on the defaulting Team.
(D)
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 arbitor and whose decision must be
accepted unless the ground is declared fit for play.
(E)
Match Officials appointed under this Rule shall be entitled to charge standard
class public transport expenses or private car expenses of 0p per mile and any
other permitted expenses actually incurred together with the following match
fees:-
Referee
£30.00 inclusive, Registered Referees appointed by the Management Committee as
Assistant Referees £12.00 inclusive, subject to any limits laid down by the
sanctioning Association (currently
£30.00 maximum for Referees and £20.00 maximum for Assistant Referees).
The
Home Club shall pay the Officials their fees and expenses before/ immediately
after the match.
For
double header matches the fees are: Referee £40.00 inclusive, and Assistant
Referees £25.00 inclusive. Match officials expenses shall be split equally. The
home team is responsible for paying the Officials. The away team shall pay the
home team before leaving the ground.
(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 or her engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory
explanation as to their non-appearance, may be reported to the Association with
which he or she 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.
(I)
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.
(J)
The Referee shall submit a report Form, supplied by the Competition, giving the
result of the match, the number of players in each team and the time of
kick-off to the Referees Secretary within two days of the match.
(K)
Referees and Assistant Referees shall be supplied, each Season, with a copy of
the Competition Rules free of charge.
(L)
Not in use.
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 £25.00.
(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.
(i) Any Club infringing this Rule
after the fixtures have commenced shall be liable to a fine not exceeding
£50.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any call which may be
made under Rule 5(B).
(ii) Any Club infringing this Rule
and not disbanding before the fixtures have commenced shall be liable to a fine
not exceeding £50.00 per team and shall also be liable for its share of any
call which may be made under Rule 5(B).
(iii) Any Club infringing this Rule
and disbanding before the fixtures have commenced cannot be fined but will be
liable for their financial commitments prior to disbanding.
(C)
The Membership for the coming season having been decided at a Special General
Meeting held for that purpose not earlier than 30th April nor later
than 30th June or 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.
If the debt remains unpaid after
eighty-four (84) days the Competition may apply to the Club’s parent County
Association for the debt to be recovered in accordance with the FA Football
Debt Recovery System. Once the matter has been passed to the Club’s parent
County Association the debt can only be cleared by payment to that County
Association.
PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS
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 seven 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 £10.00.
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 receive a copy of the submission and
must be afforded an opportunity to make a statement at least 7 days prior to
the protest or complaint being heard.
(i) All parties must
have received seven days’ notice of the Hearing should they be instructed to
attend.
(ii) Should a Club
elect to state its case in person then they should forward a deposit of £ 20.00
and indicate such when forwarding the written response.
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 Essex County Football Association,
including a fee of £35.00, for adjudication of a Board of Appeal. The grounds
of appeal shall be in accordance with FA Rules. 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)
Not in use.
TROPHY:-
LEGAL OWNERS, CONDITIONS OF TAKING OVER,
AGREEMENT
TO BE SIGNED. AWARDS.
18. (A) If
a Competition is discontinued for any reason a Trophy or any other presentation
shall be returned to the Donor if the conditions attached to it so provide or,
if not, dealt with as the sanctioning Association may decide.
(B)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 30th September. 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.”
Failure
to comply will result in a fine as determined by the Management Committee.
Any
Club leaving the League before 30th September shall return any Cup
or Trophy held by them at the time of their resignation.
(C)
At the close of each Competition awards shall be made to the winners and
runners-up if the funds of the Competition permit.
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 seven 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
Member Club shall be empowered to send two delegates to all Special General
Meetings. Each Club shall be entitled to one vote only as will members of the
Management Committee.
Any
continuing Member Club failing to be represented at a Special General Meeting
without satisfactory reason being given shall be fined £50.00.
Officers
and Management Committee members shall be entitled to attend and vote at all
Special General Meetings.
ALTERATION TO RULES
20. Alterations, for which consent
has been given by the sanctioning Association, 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 31st December in each year. The
proposals, together with any proposals by the Management Committee, shall be
circulated to the Clubs by 31st January and any amendments thereto
shall be submitted to the Secretary by 15th February. 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 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 at least twenty-eight days prior to the date
of the meeting.
FINANCE
21. (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 £200.00 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 30th April.
(D)
The books, or a certified balance sheet, of a Competition shall be prepared and
shall be audited annually by
some suitable person(s) who shall be appointed at the Annual General Meeting.
(E)
Honoraria, if paid, must be agreed at the Annual General Meeting and relate to
the season just concluded. The
Management Committee shall recommend which Officers may receive honoraria and
the level of payment. All the above to be detailed on the AGM paperwork under
“Any other business” (Rule 6(A)(x)).
Approved ECFA
4.7.2011 including Competition amendments AGM June 2011.
CUP
COMPETITION RULES
1. The Competition shall be designated the ‘Ilford
& District Football League Cups Competitions’
2. The competitions shall be conducted in
accordance with the rules, regulations and bye-laws of the Football Association
and shall be open only to Clubs competing within the Ilford & District
Football League. Clubs in the Premier Division
and Division One shall for the LEAGUE CUP. Clubs in Division Two and
Division Three shall for the SPARTAK CUP. One team from every club shall
compete for the FENTON CUP.
3. Entries
shall be received by the Hon. Cup Secretary on or before the Annual General
Meeting. The entrance fee shall be £25 payable by the 30th September
each year, failure to do so shall result in a fine of £20
4. The
Competitions shall be managed by the League Management Committee.
5. i. Players competing in
cup matches shall be duly registered to play in the Ilford & District
Football League in full compliance with League Rule 8(B).
ii. No player
may play in a semi-final or final of any cup competition unless he has played
in not less than four matches (League or Cup) during the current season for his
present club within the Ilford & District Football League.
iii. A player
may only represent one team in the same Cup competition in any one season.
iv. A player
who has competed in the League Cup competition may not compete in the Spartak
Cup in the same season
v. A club may
at its discretion use up to three substitute players from a nominated list of
five at any time in the match, except to replace a player who has been
dismissed from the field of play by the Referee for misconduct after the play
has commenced, in accordance with Rule 10 (N).
vi. Any Club
found in breach of any of the provisions of this Rule shall be struck out of
the competition and thereafter dealt with by the Management Committee who may
impose fines as they deem appropriate. The opposing side may also be reinstated
into the Competition if such action is deemed appropriate by the Management
Committee.
6. In the event of a Cup tie having to be
cancelled, notification must be made by the Home Club to:
i.
the opponents
ii.
the Referee
iii.
the Referees Secretary
iv.
the Cups Secretary
v.
the Fixtures Secretary
vi.
the Registrations Secretary
immediately that it is apparent that a game is to
be postponed. Failure to do so shall incur a fine of £5 in each case and the
defaulting club shall be liable to such further penalty that the Management
Committee decides.
7. Referees for all matches and Assistant Referees,
if available, for semi-finals and Final shall be appointed by the Hon. Referees
Secretary. In matches prior to the semi-finals, each club shall provide an
efficient Assistant Referee. Upon the request of any club, neutral Assistant
Referees will be appointed where available, the club making the request will
pay their fees. Match Officials under these rules shall be entitled to charge a
match fee which shall be the maximum
allowed by the sanctioning Association for matches in the competition. All fees
shall be deemed to include expenses.
The Referees and Assistant Referees fees shall be
paid to them immediately after the match by the home club, who shall recover
the half the Referees fee and half the Assistant Referees fees from their
opponents. The away team shall pay the home team before leaving the ground.
8. The Draw shall be made by the Management
Committee which will also fix the grounds and dates by which the ties shall be
played.
In all Cup competitions, the tie shall be decided
at the first game by two periods of 45 minutes. If any match results in a draw
at full time, the team winning the tie shall be decided by the taking of
penalty kicks, in accordance with the International Board decision. In all matches, the duration of play shall
not be less than 60 minutes, followed if necessary by penalties..
Clubs competing in the finals shall (funds
permitting) receive medals.
9.(A) Each Club appearing in the competitions cup
finals shall be required to provide a squad list and programme information to
the Publications Secretary at least 10 days before the date scheduled for the
final. Failure to submit the details will result in a fine of £20.
(B). Each club appearing in the competitions cup
finals shall shall supply two match balls for use in the final. Failure to
provide two acceptable match balls shall result in a fine of £10.
10. These competitions shall take prior claims over an Ilford &
District Football League match. The Fixtures Secretary shall have the power to
decide the priority of all League and Cup fixtures. The Fenton Cup shall take
precedence over the League Cup, and likewise the League Cup over the Spartak
Cup and the St Mary’s Cup.
11. With the exceptions stated above, the Rules of
the Ilford & District Football League shall, wherever applicable, govern
the competition.
12. Each club shall be deemed to have given its
assent to the foregoing Rules and to abide by the League Management Committee,
subject to the provisions of League Rule 16.
#13
Rob
created 27/07/06 00:00 updated 06/10/11 19:56
idfl,ilford,district,football,league,essex