Joint Handbook 2023 2024

Assistant Referees shall be appointed for Premier Division matches and Division One Matches where possible. Club Assistant Referees for the remaining Division One matches MUST be provided by the competing Clubs. Club Assistant Referees must be 16 years old or over. Any Club failing to provide an Assistant Referee shall be liable to a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff. Club Assistant Referees must report to the Referee ’ s room at least 15 minutes prior to kick - off and must remain in the Officials changing room during half time. Clubs must ensure that Club Assistant Referees wear distinctive clothing and fully understand the basic rules of football. A named substitute shall not act as a Club Assistant Referee. The list of Referees and Assistant Referees shall be compiled by the Board in accordance with FA Instructions. All Referees and Assistant Referees must be in possession of a League Badge. All Referees and Assistant Referees shall be unconnected with opposing teams. The General Secretary shall have the power in case of emergency to appoint an Official to act in a Competition fixture whose name is not on the Official or Supplementary List. Officials not keeping their engagement, and failing to give a satisfactory explanation as to their non appearance, may have their name removed from the list of Referees and have this fact reported to the Asso ciation with which they are registered. No Club shall postpone a Competition match on account of the apparent state of the ground. In the event that such circumstances prevail, Clubs must comply with procedures provided for by this rule and in the guidance issued by the League. Should the ground be declared unfit it is the responsibility of the home Club to immediately advise the Competition by telephoning the Fixture Director, the Appointing Authority, the visiting Club and the Match Officials. The League MUST be notified of the postponement at the earliest opportunity and in any event no more than 30 minutes after the match is postponed, or the Club will be liable to a fine in accordance with the fines tariff. Failure to notify the appointed Match Officials at the ear liest possible moment may leave the Home Club liable for their fees and expenses. If a match is regarded as doubtful because of ground conditions, any pitch inspection undertaken other than by the appointed Match Referee must be undertaken by a Referee classified at, or above, Level 5. For Satur day matches any inspection must be made on the morning of the match at an appropriate time, which should take into account the departure time of the opposing team and the Match Official (s). For midweek games any decision to postpone a match must not be made more than 24 hours before the scheduled kick off time. The Referee shall have the power to decide as to the fitness of the ground in all matches and his decision shall be final. On occasions when the weather is likely to make a match doubtful, Match Officials should ensure that the Home Club know how to contact them on match days and/or ensure that they contact the Home Club be fore travelling. Premier Division and KOC Matches (and Division One if Assistant Referees Appointed) 14.3 In the event of any of the Match Officials appointed for a match not being in attendance at the match or be coming unable to complete the match it shall be completed under the control of the remaining Match Offi cials unless the competing Clubs are able to agree upon a substitute who is acceptable to the Match Referee; should the appointed Match Referee fail to appear then the senior Assistant Referee must take charge. Any substitute agreed for a match shall be considered a Match Official for the purposes of that match. In the event that a Club causes a match to be abandoned in relation to the operation of this Rule then that Club shall be charged with failing to fulfil a fixture (Rule 8.6 refers). Division One (if no appointed Assistant Referees), In the event of the non - appearance or incapacity (before or during the game) of the appointed Referee, or if there is no appointed Referee, Clubs must agree a substitute Referee to take charge of the game and it will be the home Clubs responsibility to ensure that a substitute Referee is found. Such substitute Referee shall for that game have the full authority and status of a registered Referee In the event that a Club, notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph causes a match to be abandoned by failing to find or agree on a substitute Match official then that Club shall be charged with failing to fulfil a fixture (Rule 8.38 refers) 14.4 Match Officials should be present at the appointment at least 60 minutes prior to the scheduled time of kick off. The appointed Referee may be required to visit the ground earlier if requested to do so by the home Club.

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