Australia NewsRed Card Shake-Up For A-League |
The disciplinary regulations of the Hyundai A-League have been revamped for the season which starts tonight.
“The regulations were reviewed because we wanted to ensure that football’s disciplinary provisions are not only consistent with those of the sport internationally, but also with community expectations within Australia,” said Football Federation Australia CEO, Ben Buckley.The key changes include:
:: The appointment of a three person Match Review Panel to review footage of each match where players receive a red card (send off);
:: The appointment of a Disciplinary Committee to hear player appeals and direct referrals;
:: The capacity for FFA to directly refer matters to the Disciplinary Committee if the referee has made an “obvious error” and the matter is contrary to the good image of football;
:: The capacity for players to challenge a red card decision on the basis that the referee, in possession of all the facts including available broadcast footage, has made an error;
:: An increase in the number of accumulated yellow cards to 5 before a one match suspension is received. For every 3 yellow cards after this, the player receives a two match suspension; and
:: The opening of hearings of the Disciplinary Committee and the subsequent Appeals Committee to accredited media for reporting purposes and subject to certain conditions.
The new Match Review Panel is to be chaired by former referee, Barry Such. Other members include former Socceroos, Alan Davidson and Jean Paul de Marigny and another former referee, Simon Micallef.
The Disciplinary Committee is to be chaired by John Marshall SC with lawyer and former Socceroo, Peter Tredinnick, as Deputy Chairman.
FFA’s new disciplinary regulations were developed during the off season following an analysis of other systems including FIFA’s, the Asian Football Confederation’s and other football leagues, as well as consultation with legal practitioners, former football players, the AFL, NRL, referees and the Australian Professional Footballers’ Association, Hyundai A-League clubs and State member federations.
“We hope the new set of regulations will eliminate many of the inconsistencies that existed in the system over the first three years of the Hyundai A-League and ensure that players, referees, clubs and fans have certainty over the disciplinary regulations and process,” Buckley said.
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