Appendix 4 - Regulation 17

17.15 Initial Procedures – Citing Complaint and Citing Commissioner Warning
17.15.1 Subject to Regulation 17.15.3 and 17.15.4, a citing complaint by a Citing Commissioner must be sent in writing to the nominated officer of the Host Union or Tournament Organiser responsible for the Match in which the incident that is the subject of the citing complaint occurred within ordinarily a minimum of 12 hours and no later than a maximum of 48 hours of the conclusion of the Match. In default of appointment, the nominated officer shall be deemed to be the Secretary of the Host Union or Tournament Organiser.
17.15.2

For the purposes of this Regulation 17.15, a citing complaint is deemed to be sent when:

  • it is transmitted by facsimile or email provided that timed and confirmed notice of transmission can be provided; or
  • if transmitted by some other means, when it is received by the nominated officer or Secretary of the Host Union or Tournament Organiser (or his nominee).
17.15.3     

In circumstances where a Player has not been cited within the time periods specified in Regulation 17.15.1 as a result of either:

  • mistaken identity; and/or
  • circumstances exist where the nature of the Foul Play incident(s) concerned is such that an investigation is needed to identify the Player(s) alleged to have committed an act(s) of  Foul Play; and/or
  • circumstances exist where the nature of the Foul Play incident(s) concerned is such that an investigation is needed to identify or establish the full nature of the alleged act(s) of Foul Play;

then the citing period may be extended by the duly appointed Disciplinary Committee, Judicial Officer, Host Union or Tournament Organiser, however, any such extension will not in any event exceed 12 days from the last date otherwise permitted by Regulation 17.15.1.

17.15.4

The citing complaint should ordinarily contain the following information:

  • the date and place of the alleged Foul Play;
  • the name of the Player in respect of whom the complaint is made and the team he was playing for at the time of the alleged Foul Play;
  • the name of the opposing team; and
  • details of the alleged Foul Play including brief details of the evidence relied upon.

Form 3(A) (Appendix 2 of this Regulation) may be used for the purposes of making a citing complaint.

17.15.5 All Persons requested to provide reports and/or information must do so within the timescale requested or seek more time if required from the Citing Commissioner. Failure to provide the information and/or reports sought by the Citing Commissioner or his nominee may, in the absence of a reasonable explanation, constitute Misconduct.
17.15.6 The Citing Commissioner or his nominee (who may be the Citing Commissioner Liaison Officer) must obtain such reports and information as he considers necessary in relation to the cited act(s) of Foul Play. The Citing Commissioner shall provide to the Host Union or Tournament Organiser who shall in turn forward the documents and televisual evidence (where available) to the Player and other parties who were provided with a copy of the citing complaint including the relevant Match Officials.
17.15.7 The Host Union’s or Tournament Organiser’s nominated officer shall arrange for the reports and related evidence in relation to the matter to be provided, as soon as possible, to the Player and members of the Disciplinary Committee or Judicial Officer that will hear the case. The Player subject to a citing complaint shall be advised that he is not eligible to play in any Match anywhere in the world and shall be suspended from all on-field activities on Match days pending resolution of the case.
17.15.8 Where a Player is the subject of a citing complaint, his case should, wherever practicable, be heard ordinarily within 48 hours and no later than 72 hours of the conclusion of the Match in which the cited alleged Foul Play occurred. 
17.15.9

Initial Procedures – Citing Commissioner Warning

  • A Citing Commissioner Warning shall be notified to the nominated officer of the Host Union or the Tournament Organiser in which the incident occurred within ordinarily a minimum 12 hours and a maximum of 48 hours of the conclusion of the relevant Match. The Citing Commissioner Warning notification shall contain the information in Regulation 17.15.4 (a) to (d). Form 3(B) (Appendix 2 of this Regulation) may be used for the purposes of notification;
  • On receipt of the Citing Commissioner Warning, the nominated officer of the Host Union or Tournament Organiser shall send a copy of the notification to the Player in respect of whom it is made, his team management and the appropriate Match Officials of the Match in which it is alleged the Foul Play occurred.