Player Eligibility 

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CHAPTER I

Types of Sanctions

1. Disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed on teams are:

(a)                a caution

(b)               a censure

(c)                the cancellation of a match (requiring a replay if necessary)

(d)               deduction of points

(e)                a ban from Bermuda Commercial League (BCL) hosts ground(s)

(f)                a ban from taking part in a current and/or future competition

These sanctions may be combined

2. Disciplinary sanctions which may be imposed on individual coaches, spectators and players:

(a)                a caution

(b)               a censure

(c)                a fine for a caution during a game resulting in a yellow card. The  amount of which will be decided at the beginning of every season

(d)               a fine for an expulsion from a game. The  amount of which will be decided at the beginning of every season

(e)                suspension for a specified number of matches and/or a specified period

(f)                a ban from BCL hosts ground(s)

(g)               a temporary or lifelong suspension from all sanctioned BCL events

These sanctions may be combined

CHAPTER II

Implementation of sanctions

Principles

1.1       All disciplinary sanctions contained in the previous list represent minimum penalties. The Disciplinary Committee or the Executive Board shall be empowered to impose harsher sanctions if the gravity of the offence warrants it.

1.2              Extenuating or aggravating circumstances shall be taken into account.

1.3              Repetition of the offence shall automatically incur a harsher penalty

1.4              If any infringement is committed before or after a match, the same sanction shall apply as those for a similar offence committed during a match

1.5              A suspension shall come into effect immediately

CHAPTER III

Infringements or incidents at matches or tournaments

All BCL participants will be subject to the following rules and regulations

Cautions

1.1              Caution (without expulsion) during a game resulting in the showing of a yellow card for a player by the referee for:

-          foul play

-          Dissent

-          ill-mannered (incorrect) behavior

-          unethical (ungentlemanly) conduct

-          gamesmanship (time wasting, deliberate infringements, etc)

-          temporarily leaving the field of play without notifying the officials

-          other unsporting behavior

Punishment:    confirmation of caution and fine in accordance with Chapter 1

1.2              Second caution resulting in the showing of a second yellow card during the same match will result the showing of a red card and expulsion by the Official (even if it is not the same type of offence)

Punishment:    suspension for at least one match and fine in accordance with Chapter 1

Expulsions

2.1              Expulsion by an official for:

-          serious foul play

-          violent conduct

-          foul language towards an official

Punishment:    Suspension for at least two matches, a fine in accordance with Chapter 1and a review of the offence by the Disciplinary Committee.

Repetition:      (even if it is not the same type of infringement):

An increased Suspension decided on by the Disciplinary Committee

2.2              Expulsion of a player or coach by an official for:

-          insulting an official

Punishment:    Suspension for at least three matches

Repetition:      An increased Suspension decided on by the Disciplinary Committee

2.3              Expulsion of a player or coach for:

-          violence against another player, team official or any other person present at the match

Punishment:    Must appear before the Disciplinary Committee for Disciplinary sanctions

2.4              Expulsion of a player or coach for:

-          Serious violence against another player, team official or any other person present at the match (brawl, serious incident)

Punishment:    Must appear before the Disciplinary Committee for Disciplinary sanctions

2.5              Expulsion of a player or coach for:

-           Violence against an official

Punishment:    Must appear before the Disciplinary Committee for Disciplinary sanctions (see penalties for offences against officials)

2.6              Overall misbehavior of a team even if the referee has already imposed several individual disciplinary sanctions on the players during the match itself.

Punishment:    in accordance with Chapter I

2.7              Infraction committed by a team (such as refusal to continue the match, abandoning the field of play, etc.) or by its officials

Punishment:    in accordance with Chapter I

2.8              Lack of discipline and order on the field or BCL hosts Ground(s) before, during or after a match (invasion or attempted invasion of fields of play by spectators, missiles being thrown (bottles, rocks etc.)

Punishment:    in accordance with Chapter I, to be imposed on the player or team responsible, taking into consideration the seriousness of the incident and/or whether it has been repeated

1.      Verbal abuse of a fan towards players, coaches or officials

Punishment: Official to notify a warning to individual

2.      Continued verbal abuse towards players, coaches or officials

Punishment: Expulsion from the grounds. Team affiliated with individual will receive written warning

3.   Violent conduct of a spectator towards a coach, player or other spectator

Punishment: Spectator will be banned for a minimum of one year from all BCL events. Teams will receive written warning. If problem occurs again the team may face possible suspensions from BCL events.

4.         Proven damage caused to BCL hosts property or property of other team or officials.         

Punishment: Spectator will be banned for a minimum of one year from all BCL sanctioned events. Teams will receive written warning. If problem occurs again team may be required to face possible suspensions from BCL events.

Penalties for Offences against Officials

The flowing minimum suspensions shall apply for offences against officials before, during or after any BCL event or match:

1. Using foul or abusive language:                              Three match suspension

2. Spitting on/at an official                                         six match suspension

3. Pushing:                                                                  Six match suspension

4. Striking with hand, kicking or head butting:          Three year suspension

5. Striking with a ball:                                                 Six match suspension

6. Striking with an instrument:                                   Lifelong suspension

7. Proven damage to personal property:                     One year suspension

Repetition of any of the above offences may lead to a lifelong suspension from BCL events. Any of the above suspensions may be appealed by the coach or player to the Executive Board. (See Appeals procedure)

Regulations

Governing the BCL Disciplinary Committee’s function

1.                  The BCL Disciplinary Committee shall consist of a chairman, deputy chairman all of whom shall be appointed by the BCL.

2.                  The members of the Disciplinary Committee may not belong to the BCL Executive Committee

3.                  The members of the Disciplinary Committee may not sit on the committee if the case being dealt with concerns themselves or players, coaches or any other member of the team, to which they may be or have been affiliated.

4.                  The committee is valid with a quorum of at least three members, one of whom shall be the chairman or deputy chairman. In exceptional cases, the chairman may, however, designate a member as his substitute, thus assigning his powers to him.

5.                  Under special circumstances, the BCL President may decide to appoint an ad hoc Disciplinary Committee composed as follows:

-          the chairman or deputy chairman of the Disciplinary Committee,

-          two members who the chairman shall designate before the commencement of the meeting

6.                  Meetings shall be conducted by the chairman or in his absence, by the deputy    

            Chairman. The chairman may, if necessary, designate a substitute.

7.                  The committee shall take its decisions by a simple majority of votes of the members present. No member may abstain from voting. If an equal number of votes are recorded, the chairman shall have the casting vote.

8.                  When taking a decision, the committee shall refer to the report made by the official, and if deemed necessary, to any other existing evidence.

9.                  If it deems necessary, the committee may decide to grant a hearing to the parties involved. No party may be represented or accompanied by a legal consul.

10.              The committee may also decide to grant a hearing to the referee, or any other persons associated with the matters being heard by the committee.

11.              Any disciplinary measures imposed by an official on the court/field of play are final. Exceptions are made for possible modifications arising from corrections made to the official’s report or if obvious proven mistakes have been made

12.              The committee shall take its decisions in accordance with the list of disciplinary measures passed by the Executive Board

13.              In very serious cases, once the decision has been taken, the committee shall forward the file to the Executive Board so that it may take further action deemed appropriate.

14.              Any decisions taken by the committee shall be notified in writing to the parties concerned by the BCL.

15.              Decisions taken by the committee shall, except in special cases, be made known to all members of the BCL.

Regulations

Governing the BCL Executive’s Appeal function and procedure

1. The Executive Board is valid with a quorum of at least three members, one of whom shall be the President or Vice-President. In exceptional cases, the President may, however, designate a member as his/her substitute, thus assigning his/her powers to him.

2. Under special circumstances, the BCL President may decide to appoint an ad hoc Appeals Committee composed as follows:

a)      The President or Vice-President of the Executive Board,

b)      Two members who the President shall designate before the commencement of the meeting.

3. Meetings shall be conducted by the President or in his absence, by the Vice-President. The President may, if necessary, designate a substitute.

4. The Executive Board shall take its decisions by a simple majority of votes of the members present. No member may abstain from voting. If an equal number of votes are recorded, the President shall have the casting vote.

5. The Executive Board may reaffirm, revoke or amend a decision against which an appeal has been lodged. It shall not be bound by the contents of the appeal from the parties concerned. A decision may be amended to the disadvantage of the party lodging the appeal.

6. Any team, player, teacher or coach directly affected by a decision of the Disciplinary Committee shall be entitled to an appeal. Only appeals submitted to the BCL through the appropriate appeal procedure shall be considered.

7. The Executive Board shall take the final decision with regard to the foregoing.

Appeals Procedure

1. In order to be considered, appeals shall be received by the BCL no later than seven days after notification of the decision of the Disciplinary Committee to the parties concerned.

2. Any party lodging an appeal shall submit a petition. This petition shall, in addition to the request, contain a full report of the facts and conclusions

3. The Executive Board shall, as a rule, reach its decision on the basis of the documents and other means of evidence contained in the Disciplinary Committee’s file. However, the Executive Board may, if it deems necessary, request the BCL to provide any further evidence which it considers relevant.

4. Lodging an appeal shall not defer a decision except by request of the Appeals committee

5. The party lodging the appeal shall be entitled to refer to the Disciplinary Committee’s case file.

6. The BCL President shall decide whether the other party implicated in the appeal shall be informed of it. If this party is notified, the chairman shall give it a period in which to state its case and submit the items of evidence it considers necessary. If the other party fails to react within the period prescribed, it shall be deemed to have renounced the use of its rights.

7. The parties concerned shall not be entitled to attend the deliberations of the Appeals Committee

8. The committee shall take its decisions in accordance with the list of disciplinary measures passed by the BCL

9. Any decisions taken by the committee shall be notified in writing to the parties concerned by the BCL.

10. A decision shall come into force as soon as it has been notified in writing to the parties concerned.

11. The grounds for the decision shall be given only in writing.

Decisions taken by the Executive Board shall, except in special cases, be made public.                               
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