STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES THROUGH FOOTY
ONLINE RULES & REGULATIONS
The Adelaide Footy League Rules and Regulations
TRIBUNAL, APPEAL BOARD, INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE, ANTI-DOPING CODE
SECTION 13
57
THE TRIBUNAL
PAGE 45
57 THE TRIBUNAL
57.1 Shall meet at the time and place as directed by The League.
57.2 The Tribunal Chairman, Deputy Chairman and members of The League’s Tribunal Panel
(a) shall be persons not having a current official position in a Member Club.
(b) when possible, each Tribunal shall be constituted by three (3) members of The League’s Tribunal Panel.
(c) two (2) Tribunal members shall comprise a quorum of the Tribunal.
(d) may enquire if the reported person(s) and such person(s) Delegate are aware of The Tribunal Reference Manual (Appendix 17).
57.3 The Tribunal shall have the power to hear and determine any report or charge laid by an Umpire, Official of The League or other authorised official of The League including an investigation or a matter referred to it by The League in respect of any breach of these Rules and Regulations and/or Constitution of The League.
57.4 The Tribunal shall
(a) have the power to require the attendance of any person or persons before it at any time it deems fit.
(b) at its absolute discretion admit or reject any evidence given or tendered at the hearing of such report and/or adopt and pursue any procedure which it considers appropriate and proper.
(c) at its absolute discretion adjourn from time to time the hearing of any report or investigation.
(d) have the power to make recommendations to The League concerning a matter arising from a hearing of the Tribunal.
(e) forward to The League a report detailing the offences heard and determined by it.
57.5 Subject to Clause 57.4 the Tribunal may deem no report shall be heard and determined by the Tribunal unless the following conditions are complied with
(a) The report shall be in writing on the Report By Umpire form or by entering the full details into the Match Day Paperwork App and shall set out the substance of the report, the player’s guernsey number and wherever possible the name of the player reported.
(b) The Report by Umpire form shall be signed by the Field Umpire(s) and any other Umpire(s) except where the report is submitted via the Match Day Paperwork App or an Official of The League making the report and submitted to The League.
(c) Only the Match Day Official of the Member Club to which the reported player(s) or official(s) belong is the only person permitted to approach the Field Umpire(s) or other reporting official at the end of the match from which the report(s) has arisen to obtain the relevant report(s) details.
57.6 Notwithstanding a non-compliance with any one or more of the conditions specified in these Rules and Regulations the Tribunal may in its absolute discretion dispense with the compliance of such conditions and proceed to determine any report provided such dispensation does not prejudice any player called before the Tribunal.
57.7 The Umpire(s) or an Official of The League either signing the Report by Umpire form or lodging the report via the Match Day Paperwork App, the Advocate of the player’s Member Club and any witnesses shall attend the Tribunal at the time and place directed by The League.
(a) The League may impose a Fine to a Member Club if their Advocate and/or the reported player fail to attend the Tribunal.
(b) the reporting Umpire(s) may request anyone to attend the Tribunal as a witness.
(c) the offended player involved in a Category “A” report may request to attend the Tribunal hearing relating to such report or if directed to attend by The League.
57.8 Should the reported player or a required Member Club official(s) as requested by The League not appear before the Tribunal at the time and place directed by The League the Tribunal shall have the power to hear and determine the report in the player’s absence or adjourn such hearing and/or fine the player(s), official(s) or Member Club.
57.9 Should the Umpire(s) or an Official of The League signing the report not appear before the Tribunal at the time and place directed by The League, the Tribunal shall have the power to dismiss the report or adjourn such hearing.
57.10 In determining a report the Tribunal shall have the power to
(a) dismiss the report.
(b) find a report not proven.
(c) find a report proven and reprimand any player(s) or official(s).
(d) find a report proven and suspend any player or official for any period.
(e) find a report proven and impose on any player or official or Member Club a Fine for each report proven.
(f) find a report proven and impose upon a player or official a suspension for any period or suspend such period of suspension upon the player or official undertaking to be of good behaviour for any period specified by the Tribunal.
(g) suspend for any period or impose a Fine on any player whom while playing under a suspended suspension in accordance with Clause 57.10(f) is found guilty by the Tribunal of a further charge during the period of such suspended suspension.
(h) find a report not proven but if in the opinion of The League a player has committed a breach under these Rules and Regulations and/or Constitution, The League may deal with such other breach in accordance with the provisions set our herein as if such breach were the report being determined and to this effect may amend, alter or substitute any report in place of the original report.
57.11 The Tribunal shall retain the rights to impose a Fine and/or penalty or an additional penalty upon any person or Member Club who or which
(a) fails to have a Member Club Advocate represent the reported player(s) or official(s) at the Tribunal hearing.
(b) knowingly gives false evidence to the Tribunal at any Tribunal hearing.
(c) before, at, or after any Tribunal hearing insults, abuses or assaults the Tribunal or any member thereof or any person giving evidence at such hearing or whom in the opinion of the Tribunal is guilty of misconduct at a Tribunal hearing.
(d) refuses or neglects to obey an order of the Tribunal.
57.12 Should a Member Club include on its Team Sheet a player under suspension as a result of an order of the Tribunal during the player’s suspension such Member Club shall be liable to a Fine and/or loss of all Premiership Points accrued in the particular Division or in all Divisions in which such Member Club participates as from the date the suspension was implemented.
57.13 The Tribunal and/or The League shall have the power to call before it a player who has been reported for a Prescribed Penalty offence as listed in Clause 51.13.
(a) the Tribunal shall in such case have the power to hear and determine the report and to impose a penalty as described in Clause 57.10.
57.14 A suspended player whose full or part of suspension is to be served during the Major Round shall serve such suspension in the Division in which they were reported.
57.15 A bye is not counted as a match of The League for a suspension to be served.
57.16 No person disqualified or suspended may appeal to the SACFL in accordance with Regulation 6 of the SACFL Regulations unless approved by The League.
57.17 A reported player must attend the Tribunal and the charge to be determined before playing another match of The League.
57.18 All Tribunal proceedings may be recorded by any means The League determines appropriate
(a) The Tribunal may cease recording during the deliberation process.
(b) A player or club may only access such records in the event of such player being eligible to appeal or at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
(c) The League may discard any such recording or any proceedings at its discretion but no earlier than the approved timelines to appeal as described in Clause 58 of these regulations.
57.19 Determine any matter(s) not provided for in these Rules and Regulations as it sees fit.
58
TRIBUNAL APPEAL BOARD
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58 TRIBUNAL APPEAL BOARD
58.1 An appeal lodged under Clauses 58.4 or 58.5 shall be heard and determined by a Tribunal Appeal Board (“the Board”).
58.2 Each Board shall be constituted by three (3) members, at least one of whom shall be a member of the Tribunal, and the other two appointed by The League. None of the members of the Tribunal or the Investigation Committee involved in the decision which is the subject of the appeal can be a member of the Board hearing the appeal.
58.3 The members of the Board shall not have any current or past affiliation with any Member Club involved in the appeal and a paid employee of The League cannot be a member of the Board.
58.4 A Member Club player or official suspended by the Tribunal may appeal to The League against the decision of the Tribunal if
(a) the person was suspended by the Tribunal for a period of six (6) matches or more and
(b) the person has the permission of their Member Club in writing to appeal and
(c) the person’s appeal is accompanied by a fee of $1000 - inclusive of GST - which shall be refunded if the appeal is successful.
58.5 A Member Club may appeal in writing to The League against a decision of the Tribunal imposing a penalty upon the Member Club provided the appeal is accompanied by a fee of $1000 - inclusive of GST - which shall be refunded if the appeal is successful.
58.6 An appeal can only be brought under Clauses 58.4 and/or 58.5 to the Executive Committee
(a) with respect to the issue of guilt
(i) Such club must demonstrate the full reasoning such allegations described in 58.6 (a)
(ii) to be considered by any one of the League’s elected Counsel.
(b) with respect to the issue of penalty
(i) if it is alleged the penalty imposed by the Tribunal was manifestly excessive.
(ii) Such club must demonstrate the full reasoning such allegations described in 58.6 (a) (ii) to be considered by any one of the League’s elected Counsel.
58.7 An appeal specific to Clause 58.4 should be in writing setting out in full the basis of the appeal and shall be received by The League not later than two (2) days following the decision by the Tribunal against which the appeal is brought.
58.8 An appeal specific to Clause 58.6 (a) (i) should be in writing setting out in full the basis of the appeal and shall be received by The League not later than five (5) days following the decision by the Tribunal against which the appeal is brought provided the appeal is accompanied by a fee of $1000 - inclusive of GST - which shall be refunded if the appeal is successful.
58.9 Such application is to be considered by any one of the League’s elected Counsel.
58.10 Subject to any other matters set out in this Rule the Board may regulate any proceedings brought before it in such manner as it decides.
58.11 The Board is not bound by the rules of evidence nor by the practices and procedures applicable to courts of record but may inform itself on any matter in such manner as it decides.
58.12 An appeal is to proceed by way of a review of the evidence before the Tribunal and not by way of a rehearing.
58.13 At the hearing of an appeal from a decision of the Tribunal fresh evidence may not be presented without leave of the Board.
(a) The Board shall not grant such leave unless the Board is satisfied
(i) the evidence could not by reasonable diligence have been obtained prior to the end of the hearing before the Tribunal and
(ii) the evidence is of such a character if considered with other evidence which was given before the Tribunal, the Tribunal would have reached a different result.
58.14 Each Board has the power
(a) to affirm, reverse or vary the decision which is the subject of the appeal.
(b) to increase or decrease the penalty imposed by the Tribunal.
(c) to adjourn its proceedings at and to such time and place as it shall deem fit and
(d) to recommend to postpone, delay or defer the penalty imposed by the Tribunal pending the determination of the appeal.
58.15 The Board is not obliged to give reasons for a decision made by it under Clause 58.14.
58.16 Subject to Clause 58.14 a player lodging an appeal against a suspension imposed by the Tribunal may not participate in a match of The League until such player’s appeal has been heard and determined by the Board unless determined by The Executive Committee.
58.17 The decision of the Tribunal Appeal Board on a matter referred to it will be final and binding and there will be no avenue of appeal to another Tribunal or body whether judicial, quasi-judicial or otherwise including the Australian Football League, the South Australian National Football League and South Australian Community Football League unless approved by the League Executive Committee.
58.18 Determine any matter(s) not provided for in these Rules and Regulations as it sees fit.
59
INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
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59 INVESTIGATION COMMITTEE
59.1 The League may appoint an Investigation Committee to hear any matter brought before it at its discretion.
59.2 Such Investigation Committee shall have the power to hear and determine any matter referred to it by The League.
59.3 Such Investigation Committee shall comprise a quorum of not less than two persons none of whom have any current or past affiliation with a Member Club involved in the investigation.
59.4 Such Investigation Committee shall have the power to:
(a) hear and determine any investigation so initiated.
(b) dismiss the matter.
(c) find a matter not proven.
(d) find a matter proven and reprimand, suspend or Fine a Member Club(s) player(s) or official(s).
(e) summon a person to appear before it and give evidence.
(f) admit or reject evidence which it may be given.
(g) adjourn proceedings to a time and place deemed fit.
(h) adopt or pursue a procedure considered convenient and proper for the disposal of any matter.
(i) sustain or dismiss an application brought before it upon grounds as it in its absolute discretion may determine.
(j) refuse to investigate a matter brought before it for investigation if it determines in its absolute discretion such matter is trivial.
(k) alter or delete as it sees fit the result of a match played.
(l) direct a person(s) to attend a meeting at its own discretion.
(m) refer matters as it deems fit to The League, or the Tribunal or the Executive Committee.
(n) initiate an investigation into a Tribunal decision or penalty.
59.5 Such Investigation Committee shall retain the rights to impose a penalty or Fine upon a person or Member Club who or which:
(a) knowingly gives false evidence to the Investigation Committee or
(b) before, at or after a meeting of the Investigation Committee insults, abuses or assaults a member of the Investigation Committee or a person giving evidence at such hearing or
(c) in the opinion of the Investigation Committee is guilty of misconduct at a meeting or
(d) refuses or neglects to obey an order of the Investigation Committee or
(e) fails to be present at an Investigation Committee meeting as requested by the Investigation Committee.
(f) it deems appropriate.
59.6 The President or Chairman and Member Club Advocate are required to attend an investigation involving their Member Club and are permitted to bring relevant people in regard to the alleged incident(s).
59.7 A referral under Clause 57 shall
(a) be made to The League in writing by a Member Club.
(b) contain all facts relevant to the matter which is being referred as well as the relief sought by the referring party.
(c) be accompanied by a payment of $250 - inclusive of GST - which will be refunded in the event the relief being sought by the referral party is satisfied.
59.8 The decision of the Investigation Committee on a matter referred to it or an investigation carried out by it will be final and binding and there will be no avenue of appeal to another Tribunal or body whether judicial, quasi-judicial or otherwise including the Australian Football League, the South Australian National Football League and South Australian Community Football League unless approved by the League Executive Committee.
59.9 Determine any matter(s) not provided for in these Rules and Regulations as it sees fit.
60
ANTI-DOPING CODE
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60 ANTI-DOPING CODE
60.1 A Member Club and its officials are bound by the Australian Football League (AFL) Anti-Doping Code.
60.2 The AFL is a signatory to the World Anti-Doping Code (WADA).
60.3 WADA is the international organisation responsible for fighting doping in sport.
60.4 The Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) is responsible for implementing the AFL’s AntiDoping Code at all levels of competition.
60.5 ASADA’s responsibilities for investigations extend to The League.
60.6 A Member Club player or official does not have to be tested to breach the Code and receive a sanction.
60.7 Penalties under the AFL Anti-Doping Code may be up to four (4) years and prevent a person from performing any role in a Member Club including playing, coaching or being a support staff member.
60.8 Such sanctions may include participation in any event, match or activity managed by a Member Club.