HIS FOOTBALL LEAGUE REFEREE FORUM MEETING 17 HIS PEOPLE CHURCH N1 CITY

1. Match Officials 2. Match Duration 3. Knock out Fixture 4. Team Returns 5. Substitutions 6. Sin Bin 7. Minimum Players 8. Away Team Kit & Match Ball 9. Team Returns & Results 10. Referees Responsibility 11. Next Meeting

 ALL matches scheduled by the League shall be controlled by Match Officials appointed by the Executive Committee and/or Team Leaders of the League.  Affiliated teams shall complete the referee nomination form annually which shall indicate the qualifications, experience and contact particulars of three (3) Match Officials.  Match Officials will attend regular forums to improve their refereeing skills and to be advised of amendments to the Laws.

 If, ten (10) minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off time, the appointed Match Officials fails to appear, the Representatives or Managers of BOTH teams participating in the Fixture shall check each other's Team Returns assuming the Match Officials’ arrival is imminent.  However, should the Match Officials NOT be present FIFTEEN (15) MINUTES after the scheduled kick-off, it must be reported to the Match Secretary.  The Representatives, Managers or Captains of both teams must attempt to appoint a suitable player or official who is a registered member of the League to officiate in the fixture. Only in the case where a registered member cannot be found, may an outsider be requested to officiate. This person must be acceptable to both teams.

 If a match official/s suitable to both teams cannot be found the game is to be called off.  Team Representatives are requested to report the details of the events to the Match Secretary.  The appointed Match Official/s who fails to turn up for his/her allotted Fixture shall be disciplined (if necessary) by their Team Representative and/or the League’s Executive Committee.  In all cases of an unsuitable reason for their failure to provide match officials, the Team or the official/s shall be fined.  Decisions to postpone or abandon games due to the ground being unfit, shall lay with the Lessee FIRST and only after he declares the ground fit may the Referee exercise his right to play or postpone the match.

 The Referee, however, shall be empowered to switch the match from an unfit field to an adjacent field which, in his/her opinion, is in a better condition. Permission must still be obtained from the grounds- man. if required.  Should a Referee SEND OFF a player during a match he/she shall submit the necessary Report Form to the Match Secretary within seventy-two (72) hours following the match. Should no “SEND-OFF” report be forthcoming within the stipulated time, the matter shall be reported  to the League’s Chairman who shall order an inquiry into the matter and take the necessary Disciplinary measures to prevent any re-occurrence of a similar nature.

 If, after the initial waiting period of fifteen (15) minutes, one Team has insufficient players (less than seven) to start the match the Referee shall declare the absentees as DEFAULTERS and together with the completed non- defaulting team’s Team Return, submit his/her Match Report accordingly.  A match starting later than the specified kick-off time shall be reduced to 30 minutes each way.  Teams failing to fulfill Refereeing commitments as per fixture list R and a deduction of 3 points per match

 Kick 14H00 & 15H30  League and knockout fixtures consist of two equal halves of thirty five (35) minutes, with a maximum rest period of five (5) minutes separating them. The playing time of a match may be shortened to thirty (30) minutes each way.

 In the event of the score being tied at full time in a knockout fixture, the referee shall select the goal area, for a penalty shoot-out, taking into account wind, sun and rain factors, which could affect the goalkeeper’s vision.  The penalty shoot-out will conform to FIFA ‘s Laws of the Game.  A referee may postpone a penalty shoot-out if, in his opinion, bad weather, interference of outside agents, or actions of spectators may result in injury to the players. The match secretary will inform the teams of the time and venue where the penalty shoot-out will take place.

 Names of players, who have been selected to play in any fixture, must appear on the official Team Return that will be handed to the referee prior to kick-off.  The names of ALL registered players (maximum of 25) MUST appear on the Team Return and must also clearly indicate the selected starting 11. The balance of up to 14 players reflected will be deemed to be the substitutes.  The officiating referee will compare the names on the Team Return with the available player registration cards. Any player’s name reflected on the Team Return and whose card is NOT available to be presented prior to the match MUST be deleted from the Team return and the player will NOT be eligible to participate in the match.  Players registered for a team may not play for any other team without receiving a clearance certificate which has been approved by the Executive committee.

 Teams, who arrive at the fixture with insufficient players, may not “use” non-registered players or players registered with another team to complete their compliment of 11 players.  Teams with seven or more players present at kick-off time will be compelled to start the game at kick-off time.  The waiting period of 15 minutes will only apply to teams having less than seven players at kick-off  time (not for players who are late or getting dressed etc.).  Kick-off time is the time stipulated on the fixture list when the match is to start.  No players card, no play

 The number of substitutes permitted before and during any League or knockout match is limited to four (4) for Premier League.  Masters teams will be allowed a maximum of five (5) substitutes.  A reserve player, may substitute a player sent off prior to the commencement of a game.  Thereafter only three players may be substituted.  A player, who has previously been substituted, may return to the match. He will also be counted as a one of four/five permitted substitutes.

 Any player receiving a yellow card for an infringement during a match will immediately spend five (5) minutes in the sin-bin.  The player will only be allowed back onto the field with the referee’s approval.  No other disciplinary action is required for only one (1) yellow card offence in one match.

 If during any League or knockout fixture the number of players of a team is reduced to six (6) or less players due to injury/sending-offs, with no registered substitutes available, the referee will abandon the game.  The opposing team will be declared the winner even if at that stage the defaulting team with six (6) players is ahead on score.  The non-defaulting team will be credited with three (3) points and three (3) goals.  If the non-defaulting team was ahead on score at the stage when the game was abandoned, the score shall remain as it was at the time the game was stopped.  If, during a penalty shoot-out, the number of players is reduced to 6 or less players, the non defaulting team will be declared the winners.

 The visiting team or when the game is played at a neutral venue, the team mentioned second on the fixture list shall change into an alternate strip of jerseys, or bibs if, according to the referee, colours clash  The home team, mentioned first on the fixture list, shall provide a suitable match ball conforming to the required specifications as per FIFA’s rules of the Game

 Team representatives shall telephonically report, the final score, the number of players cautioned and sent-off and any irregular incidents that took place before, during and after the game, to the Match Secretary within 48 hours of the completion of the game.  It shall be the responsibility of the appointed referee or the Home Team Representative when an alternative referee was used, to submit the completed team returns, and send-off reports, to the  Match Secretary within 72 hours. He must also, within 24hours of the completion of the match, telephonically notify the Match Secretary of the following:  The final result of the game  The names of players cautioned  The names of players sent off  Incidents or actions that may require disciplinary action

 Referees have the authority to call off a match if the field is not suitably marked which, in his opinion, could influence his decisions on the field, as well as the final result of the game.  Referees have the authority to call off a match if NO PLAYERS CARD is available  Players’ equipment will conform to the Referee’s Chart to FIFA’s Laws of the Game.  A player must not be permitted to enter the field of play without the necessary shin guards.  A Player must not be permitted to enter the field of play wearing any jewellery

 QUESTIONS & ANSWERS SESSION  GOOD LUCK HFL REFEREES FOR THE 2016 SEASON