TORSO D&P Procedures - Effective September 1, 2011
These New D&P Procedures have been revised to reflect vote of the Leagues on August 25, 2011 on the duly moved and seconded motion by the Foresters. The League votes added the oral live hearing option.
Probation
As part of any given D&P ruling, a period of probation may be given along with or independent of a player suspension. To clarify the concept of Probation, the following definition shall be used:
Definition: When a player receives a period of probation as part of a sanction, then if that player receives a yellow or red card for any reason during the period of probation, then that player is suspended for the entire period of probation starting with the next match no matter when the booking occurs.
For example, assume Player X receives a period of probation of five matches. If Player X then receives a booking for any reason over the next five matches (even if the booking occurs at the 90th minute of the last match of the period of probation), then Player X is automatically suspended for the next five matches. The suspension starts on its own without any further ruling or action by the D&P Committee, Board, or other person.
If the booking received during the period of probation is for an illegal substitution, for an illegal handing of the ball, or for a similar non-violent, non-aggressive or non-abusive violation of the Laws of the Game, then automatic suspension is still in place, but the suspended player may then go before the D&P Committee and then ask the D&P Committee to reinstate the period of probation. There is no guarantee that the D&P Committee will reinstate the probation under such circumstances or any other circumstances
I. If a player receives a red card for any reason on a Sunday (during the match, before the match or after the match), then the red card match report will be sent to the D&P Committee.
- Any red card will be sent to the D&P Committee
- Any red card is considered to be a serious offense
- You must treat the issuance of any red card as a serious offense, even if the match official verbally tells you otherwise
- If the match official issued a red card, then that is serious
II. You must review the match report (which will sent electronically) to determine what the match official reported about the red card.
- This is your notice of the reasons for the red card
- The match report will be the evidence the D&P Committee will accept as true unless there are other statements submitted to the D&P Committee
- IF YOU DO NOT RECEIVE THE MATCH REPORT BY THE TUESDAY AFTER THE SUNDAY WHEN THE RED CARD WAS ISSUED, PLEASE NOTIFY NEIL BACKES IMMEDIATELY
- If you do not notify Neil Backes, then you may not argue that you did not receive a copy of the match report as an excuse for not submitting any statements
III. You have until 11:59 p.m. on the Thursday following the Sunday (when the red card was issued) either (a) to request an oral live hearing or (b) to submit whatever evidence electronically that you want the D&P Committee to consider.
- There will be no live hearing unless you request one timely
- This is your notice of the Thursday deadline to submit any evidence
- THERE IS NO LONGER ANY EXCUSE THAT YOU DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF THE DEADLINE TO SUBMIT EVIDENCE OR REQUEST A HEARING
- The evidence may consist of email or other written statements along with any other evidence that you want the D&P Committee to address
- The statements should address the reasons for the red card set forth in the match report
- If you request an oral live hearing, then the timetable for that hearing will be determined by the D&P Committee separately. Each oral live hearing will proceed along its own unique timetable. Each player and team is responsible for making sure that they understand what that unique timetable is.
IV. If there is no request for an oral live hearing, by the following Thursday, the D&P Committee will announce its decision.
- The D&P Committee will announce its decision
- The decision may be that time served is the only sanction or the decision may be that the player has to sit out multiple matches
V. If there is no request for an oral live hearing, by the next Monday, the player must appeal any decision to the Board under the normal procedures and bond. The Board will consider the appeal at the next League or Board meeting. The Board’s jurisdiction remains limited as provided in the Bylaws.
- The Board meets the second Wednesday of every month except for December and June. The Board meets the first Wednesday in December and not at all in June
- The League meetings are toward the end of October, January, March and May and toward the middle of December
| Sunday | Red Card Issued |
| Monday | |
| Tuesday | Receive Match Report |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | Submit all Evidence Electronically or Request for Oral Hearing |
| Friday | |
| Saturday | |
| Sunday | |
| Monday | |
| Tuesday | |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | If No Hearing is Requested, Receive Decision Electronically |
| Friday | |
| Saturday | |
| Sunday | |
| Monday | If No Hearing is Requested, File any Appeal to the Board |
| Tuesday | |
| Wednesday | |
| Thursday | |
| Friday | |
| Saturday |
