Gloucestershire FA - developing football for everyone
Governance - safeguarding the game

Discipline

Every County FA are responsible for maintaining discipline at grass roots level and abiding by the procedures issued annually by the Football Association.

Some people see the Discipline side of the County FA as a 'money making' exercise. However, the role of the Discipline Team is to ensure that the Rules and Regulations of The FA and County FA are upheld and to maintain good discipline and fair-play in the grassroots game.

Clubs playing at Steps 5 and 6 of the National league System are dealt with under a match-based suspension system in line with football played above that level.

Clubs playing at Step 7 and below, including Youth and Sunday football, will continue to be dealt with according to a time-based suspension system.

If a player participates at both levels then the punishment will be based on the level at which they were playing.

As a club you are fully responsible for ensuring that your players are not suspended before you play them. If you do play a suspended player you could be facing a fine and you run the risk of having points deducted by your league. The player will also face a fine and will potentially have his/her suspension increased.

If the player is suspended for monies owed or outstanding debts, the debt must be paid to the County FA only before he/she can play and receive either a receipt for payment or a clearance notice before playing. Players are still under suspension until this paperwork has been received.

Clubs and players should be aware that we are now linked to a national database, which links information about players and clubs including all suspensions, from across the country.