Important Discipline Changes for Season 2017-2018

• Automatic sanctions will commence 7 days (currently 14 days) after the date of the game.  A player who is sent off will be suspended 7 days after the date of the game for a minimum of 1 match.
• The reduction to 7 days for the commencement of automatic sanctions will require County Football Associations to be suitably prepared to hear any Claim of Wrongful Dismissal/Mistaken Identity before the automatic sanction is effective i.e. for a Saturday/Sunday match to hear the claim on Thursday evening or Friday/Saturday so that a decision is made before the match date when the suspension would apply. 
• Late fees will now be charged at 25% of the outstanding invoice value rather than the set £20 late fee.

CLUB Example

Under the old ruling
A club has 5 cautions at £10 each = invoice for £50
If cautions are not paid, late fee of 5 x £20 applied = £100
Total invoice = £150

Under the new ruling:
A club has 5 cautions at £10 each = invoice for £50
If cautions are not paid, late fee of 25% of invoice is applied = £12.50
Total invoice = £62.50

• Should the invoice remain unpaid then the player and the club will be suspended.

MINIMUM Mandatory sanction for the following offences will be:

• Assault on a Match Official - 5 year suspension
• Improper Conduct against a Match Official including physical contact, violent conduct and threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour - 84 days suspension and a fine of £100.00
• Improper Conduct against a Match Official including threatening and/or abusive language/behaviour - 56 days or 6 match suspension and a fine of £50.00
• The threshold for an Appeal to The FA currently set at a sanction in excess of 2 matches and/or £25.00 fine will be removed.  Any sanction imposed by a Disciplinary Commission can be, subject to payment of the appeal fee, appealed to The FA.