Not published.

Part 6 – TRIAL BOARD

RULES AND REGULATIONS

 

ARTICLE I

Trial Board Composition

Section 1

The President of the ISSA shall, immediately following the Annual General Meeting, appoint a Chairperson and two to six other members of the Trial Board.

Section 2

Auxiliary Trial Boards may be established to handle unique situations affected by geography, time constraints, or other special circumstances, as well as to administer any intra-league matches.  Decisions of such Boards shall be subject to the final authority of the regular Trial Board.    

ARTICLE II

Authority and Powers

Section 1

The Trial Board shall be empowered to hear all reported cases of misconduct by players, as well as by all other participants, representatives, and officials of all affiliated games and entities, unless such individual or entity is governed by, and is participating in, a competition in which FIFA or USSF Rules and Regulations explicitly allow for alternative consideration of such matters (e.g., Regional Leagues).

Section 2

The Trial Board shall have the authority to deal with all violations of the rules of the game, the rules and regulations of the ISSA, and with misconduct by any affiliate, affiliate official, club, club official, team, team official, player, coach, manager, spectator, or referee under the jurisdiction of the ISSA either during scheduled or exhibition games, or during other related events, unless such individual or entity is governed by, and is participating in, a competition in which FIFA or USSF Rules and Regulations explicitly allow for alternative consideration of such matters (e.g., Regional Leagues).

Section 3

A player or other individual is subject to report whenever his/her misconduct can be related to his/her involvement with a game or other related event. 

ARTICLE III

Source of Reports

Any individual or entity can bring charges of misconduct against a player or an affiliated entity (Association, Association officials, affiliate, affiliate officials, league, league officials, club, club officials, team, team officials, teammates, opponents, coaches, managers, spectators, park or stadium personnel, etc.)

ARTICLE IV

Misconduct Charges – Caution (Yellow Card)

Section 1

                      The usual reasons for a player to be given a yellow card are as follows:

                      a.                    Unnecessary game delay

                      b.                    Challenging referee’s decision

                      c.                    Dangerous play

                      d.                    Rough play

                      e.                    Unsportsmanlike conduct

Section 2

After receiving a yellow card, a player receiving a second yellow card during the same game shall be automatically ejected from the game.

ARTICLE V

Misconduct Charges – Send-off (Red Card)

Section 1

                      The usual reasons for a player to be given a red card are as follows:

                      a.                    violent conduct or serious foul play

                      b.                    Foul or abusive language

                      c.                    Continued misconduct after having received a caution

ARTICLE VI

Referee Attack

     1.            Any physical assault upon a game official, including any form of physical contact shall be judged to be a referee attack.

     2.            Spitting at the referee or linesman is judged equal to a physical attack.  Any violent attempt of physical attack, even though no contact is made but by its nature is serious enough to cause distress, can be judged equal to a physical attack.  Any acts of obvious intimidation can be judged equal to a physical attack.  Any acts of serious threatening can be judged equal to a physical attack.

     3.            All cases of referee attack shall be reviewed directly by the ISSA Trial Board, and not by any auxiliary boards.

ARTICLE VII

Trial Board Guidelines for the Misconduct of Players

     1.            All violations or grievances are punishable either by probation, probation with a bond, suspension, suspension with a bond, suspension with probation, or suspension with probation and bond.  Professional players are also subject to fine.

     2.            Violators committing an offense while under probation shall be subject to a minimum two (2) game suspension.

     3.            Any player accumulating three (3) yellow cards in a period of two (2) years shall be automatically suspended for one (1) game.

     4.            Penalties for send-offs of individuals without previous record:

                      a.                    Violation A – Violent conduct

                                              Minimum one (1) game suspension

                      b.                    Violation B – Foul or abusive language

                                              Minimum one (1) game suspension or three (3) month probation

                      c.                    Violation C – Continued misconduct after having received a caution

                                              Minimum one (1) game suspension or three (3) month probation

                      Seriousness of the offense will be determined principally by the referee report.

     5.            Penalties for send-offs of individuals with previous record:

                      a.                    Violation A – Violent conduct

                                              Minimum two (2) game suspension

                      b.                    Violation B – Foul or abusive language

                                              Minimum one (1) game suspension and/or six (6) month probation

                      c.                    Violation C – Continued misconduct after having received a caution

                                              Minimum one (1) game suspension and/or six (6) month probation

                      Seriousness of the offense will be determined principally by the referee report and by the individual’s record.

     6.            Penalties for referee attack:

                      Such assault shall suspend the offender automatically for a minimum period of one (1) year from the time of such assault.

     7.            Any penalties applied by co-equal USSF-affiliated entities shall be honored by the ISSA.

     8.            Any penalties applied to an individual playing in a game under secondary registration shall so apply to that individual in any games he/she may participate in, whether under primary or secondary registration, and vice versa.

     9.            Any penalties applied to an individual shall be served in regular league, playoff, or cup games;  exhibition, tournament, and other “friendly” games will not count for the purposes of serving a suspension;  although, while under suspension, a player is also prevented from participating in such contests in the interim.  Specific requests for delaying suspension in situations where this would cause undue penalty may be considered.

ARTICLE VIII

Appeals

     1.            Yellow card cautions or suspensions through accumulation of three (3) yellow cards can not be appealed.

     2.            Probation of six (6) months or less can not be appealed.

     3.            Suspension of one (1) or two (2) games can not be appealed.

     4.            All other decisions must be appealed in the following order (Appeals fees are listed in the back of this Part):

                      a.                    Appeal for reconsideration to the Trial Board

                      b.                    Appeal to the ISSA Executive Board, with payment of the Appeal Fee

                      c.                    Appeal to the Regional Appeals Committee, with payment of the Appeal Fee

                      d.                    Appeal to the USASA Appeals Committee, with payment of the Appeal Fee

                      e.                    Appeal to the USSF Appeals Committee, with payment of the Appeal Fee

After reconsideration to the USSF Appeal Committee:

                      f.                     Appeal to the General Council of the USSF, with payment of the Appeal Fee

                      g.                    Appeal to FIFA

ARTICLE IX

Amendments to these Rules and Regulations

Section 1

The ISSA Executive Board has the right to add, delete, or revise any of these regulations at any time, except those elements, which are directly governed by and/or authorized by the USSF.  Proper notice will be given to all affiliates if any changes occur.

Section 2

If an occasion arises that is not fully covered by these rules or their interpretation, the Executive Board of the ISSA shall have the authority to decide any case of this nature.

Schedule of Appeals Fees          

Description	Amount
Appeal to ISSA Trial Board	$75.00
Appeal to ISSA Executive Board	$75.00
Appeal to Regional Appeals Committee	$50.00
Appeal to USASA Appeals Committee	$200.00
Appeal to USSF Appeals Committee	$300.00
Appeal to USSF National Council	$300.00
Appeal to FIFA	Call USSF