click here to view the Grassroots Disciplinary Guide 

Stage 1: Allegation

One of our main focusses within West Riding FA is to deliver a game free from misconduct and discrimination, and we can’t do this alone. Whilst it be incumbent of a Match Official to report misconduct, we rely on people like you taking the time to report incidents and for that, we want to say thank you. To submit a complainant please find our reporting  platforms: See It, Hear It, Report It - Discpline@WestRidingFA.com - Fleet Lane | Woodlesford | Leeds| LS26 8NX. 

Stage 2: Investigation

Any investigation will be conducted impartially. We kindly request persons full cooperation throughout the disciplinary process. We require anyone who witnessed or experienced any incidents of misconduct to come forward and provide us with any relevant information that could assist in our investigation. It is appropriate to reinforce the importance of evidence to support all allegations. Only through credible evidence can perpetrators be identified and charged. 

Stage 3: Charge 

Dependant on substantiated evidence, and applying a test of reasonable prospect of success, West Riding FA may bring disciplinary proceedings against any Participant in accordance with the prevailing Regulations set out by the Association.  

Stage 4: Charge Response

In bring served notice of a misconduct charge, detailed in the response pro-forma, a Participant will receive four options.

• Accept by way of correspondence, having the opportunity to submit any statements in mitigation for a plea for leniency.
• Accept by way of Personal Hearing (Verba Plea), allowing them to offer a verbal submission of mitigation to the Disciplinary Commission. 
• Deny by correspondence, having the opportunity to submit any evidence in dispute of the charge. 
• Deny by Personal Hearing, this allowing the Participant Charged to live question the evidence (in turn the witnesses who bring the allegation) before submitting their defence including introducing any witnesses of their own to give evidence. 

Stage 5: Hearing

Regardless of the Participant Charged response, a Disciplinary Commission shall be appointed by the Association to convene and hear the case. They shall draw inference to the evidence presented before them, applying the civil standard burden of proof (balance of probabilities), to make a determination on the charge(s). Information on the procedures of a Personal Hearing can be found here. 

Stage 6: Outcome         

The Participant Charged shall receive notification of the Disciplinary Commission’s findings on the conclusion of proceedings. For cases as defined by The FA as ‘Serious Cases’, Written Reasons of the Disciplinary Commission’s decision shall be produced, and with the exception of proceedings involving young persons, these shall be circulated to the parties and be made publicly available (see here). 

Stage 7: Appeal 

Details of how to pursue an appeal can be found on the Decision Letter. Any appeal proceedings are governed and administered by the Judicial Services (Judicial.Services@theFA.com) department at The FA (Judicial Services are an administrative department who apply FA Regulations and have no involvement in investigations, charges or Disciplinary Commissions for County FA disciplinary procedures). An appeal is NOT a chance to rehear a case from fresh, it is a review process. Details of appeal proceedings can be found here. 

If you require any further clarification on this matter, please contact Football Services on 0113 282 1222 (option 1) or email us at discipline@westridingfa.com