Commonwealth Soccer League, Inc.

Revised: July 6, 2007 

SECTION 5—CONDUCT

The CSL’s goal is to provide adults in the greater Fredericksburg area with the opportunity to compete in a recreational and/or competitive soccer environment.  The League as a whole can neither grow nor survive in an environment that permits confrontation, poor sportsmanship, or verbal or physical abuse from spectators, game participants, or game officials.  This type of behavior is contrary to the spirit of soccer, conflicts with the establishment of an enjoyable environment, sets a poor example, and creates situations which endanger the continuing existence of the League.

A)  STANDARDS OF CONDUCT:  While the League cannot dictate the internal administrative rules and regulations of its member teams and/or clubs, it must provide a framework for governing undesirable behavior within which member teams/clubs must administer their teams and or players.  Players are expected to perform in a manner consistent with the principles of good sportsmanship.  Team managers, coaches, and spectators should act in a manner that reinforces the concepts of good sportsmanship.  Aggressive play should not be discouraged; however, physical and/or verbal abuse of opponents cannot and shall not be allowed.  Verbal or gestured dissent with referees' decisions cannot be tolerated.  If carded, a player is expected to observe the presentation of the card without comment, and the player should be determined not to repeat the behavior that elicited the card.  Team managers, coaches, and spectators must also show respect when disagreeing with the referees' decisions.  While one cannot expect all referees' calls to be accepted without reservation, loud or abusive dissent is unwarranted and reprehensible.  The following fines and suspensions are intended as minimums; additional fines and suspensions may be levied as required.

1)     Players, team managers, or coaches fighting on the field (e.g., striking another individual or retaliating by striking another individual) shall be assessed a suspension for the remainder of the current season plus two (2) additional seasons, as well as a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00).  Situations involving an individual defending oneself will be evaluated by the Rules and Discipline Committee on a case-by-case basis. 

2)     Players, team managers, or coaches involved as “third man in” may be suspended for the remainder of the current season plus six (6) additional seasons, and fined one hundred dollars ($100.00).  “Third man in” is defined as a player, team manager, coach, or spectator not directly involved in the confrontation but who involves him/herself with the intent of doing bodily harm to another person on the field of play. 

3)     Under no circumstances should a player, team manager, coach, or spectator enter the field of play unless invited by the referee. 

a)     Players, managers, or coaches entering the playing field without the permission of the referee may be suspended for additional game(s). 

4)     Players, managers, or coaches receiving a red card are required to leave the playing area immediately and may not remain on the player side of the field nor in the spectator area. 

a)     A player, manager, or coach re-entering the field of play after being shown a red card may be suspended indefinitely. 

5)     Should a player, team manager, or coach abuse a referee or assistant referee (where abuse is defined as a verbal or physical act not resulting in bodily contact that implies or threatens physical harm to the referee, assistant referee, or their property and/or equipment), he/she may be assessed a suspension of three (3) games in addition to any caution or ejection awarded by the referee.

6)     Should a player, manager, or coach commit an assault upon a referee or assistant referee (where assault is defined as an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee), he/she shall be assessed a suspension for the remainder of the current season plus six (6) additional seasons, as well as a fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00).  The offender shall not be eligible for reinstatement into the League until he/she successfully completes a FIFA referee’s training course.

7)     The same level of restraint should be observed after a game is over.  Players, managers, or coaches involved in disturbances after a game shall be assessed at a minimum a suspension of one (1) game.  This does not exclude the potential for CSL taking civil action to protect the League, contracted properties, and League supporters.

8)     Member teams and/or clubs whose members repeatedly show a disregard for these Policies and Procedures may receive long-term penalties and restriction.

9)     Managers and players should make their spectators aware that spectators are responsible for their own actions on the sidelines.  Any violent or unruly conduct may provide justification for a civil action against that individual. 

10) Any altercation on or off the field that results in a suspension of the game or that, in the opinion of the League President, causes harm or embarrassment to the League may cause the parent team of any player(s) participating in the altercation to be fined and/or suspended. 

11) Altercations occurring within the playoff season may result in the team being suspended from competing in the playoffs next season.

12) If a manager/team knowingly fields an ineligible player, the game that is being played or has been played will be considered a forfeit.  The manager or team may be considered for suspension for the remainder of the current season and may be assessed a minimum fine of one hundred dollars ($100.00).

13) Smoking is prohibited on the field and on the player side of the field.  The minimum fine is twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per offense. 

14) Only players “in good standing” will be allowed on the player side of the field.  Teams, coaches, managers, or players allowing players not “in good standing” or non-carded players on the player side of the field may be fined up to twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per offense.  Note:  Exception stated in section 1(B)(2)(b).

15) The Rules and Discipline Committee may take action to bar an individual player from participation in CSL events at any time.

B)  DISCIPLINE:  In order to promote better understanding of the importance of sportsmanship and proper conduct within the Laws of the Game, CSL maintains the following discipline system of serious and/or persistent misconduct:

1)     Yellow cards (cautions).

a)     There shall be no initial fine for receiving a yellow card.

b)     For every three (3) yellow cards an individual accumulates in one (1) CSL regular season, he/she shall be suspended for the next played game.  Where two (2) yellow cards are accumulated in any one (1) game and a red card is presented, those yellow cards are not counted in the yellow card count, as the red card will be counted under section 5(B)(2).

c)     For every two (2) yellow cards an individual accumulates in one (1) CSL playoff season, he/she shall be suspended for the next played game.  If the player is unable to serve the suspension during the current playoffs due to the team’s elimination, the player will be suspended for the first game of the following season.

d)     For each subsequent yellow card over four (4) in a regular season, a ten dollar ($10.00) fine shall be assessed.  It is the responsibility of the player/manager to pay the fine (by check or money order) to the League Registrar.  The offender shall not be considered a CSL member in good standing until the fine is paid.

2)     Red cards (ejections).  All red cards shall be assessed by the Rules and Discipline Committee to determine the severity of the infringement for which the ejection was received.

a)     Players.

i)        There shall be a twenty dollar ($20.00) fine for any individual receiving a red card.  It is the responsibility of the player/manager to pay the fine (by check or money order) to the League’s Registrar.  The fee must be received at least three (3) days prior to the team’s next played game that the offending player is eligible to play.  Upon receipt of the payment and once the suspension is completed, the team manager will be notified that the player is again eligible to play.

ii)      A player receiving a red card in a CSL game is automatically suspended from the next played CSL game.

iii)     If any player receives a second red card during the season (including regular season and playoffs), then that player shall be suspended for the next three (3) played CSL games.

iv)    If any player receives three (3) red cards during a single playing season (including regular season and playoffs), that player is suspended indefinitely.

v)     It is the duty of the team manager as well as the team to withhold a red-carded player from the next game.  Any violation of this requirement shall be considered as a separate offense and shall be forwarded to the Rules and Discipline Committee for additional action.

b)     Team managers/coaches.

i)        Managers/coaches shall be held accountable to the same rules and discipline as players are, as stated above.  In addition, a suspended team manager/coach is not allowed to be present at the venue at which his/her team is playing, even as a spectator.

3)     Suspension.

a)     The Rules and Discipline Committee shall monitor the game reports as well as the League card statistics tracked by the League statistician.

b)     Players, team managers, or coaches ejected during the last game of the season must sit out the given suspension during their next season in CSL.

c)     Participation in any games by an individual who has been suspended or failed to pay a respective fine, or the failure to sit out the next CSL game after receiving a red card, shall be considered as a separate offense and shall be subject to further action by the Rules and Discipline Committee.

4)     Forfeiture.

a)     Refer to the Competition Committee.

5)     Protests.

a)     CSL does not accept protests of match decisions from players, managers, coaches, or members due to referee calls under the Laws of the Game.  The only exception would be a misinterpretation of the Laws.  Protests of decisions regarding violations of CSL Policies and Procedures should be in the form of a written appeal, not a protest, and sent to the League President along with a check or money order for $100 payable to CSL.  If the appeal is upheld, the fee will be refunded.

C)     DISCIPLINE FOR MARINO CUP OR OTHER IN-SEASON TOURNAMENTS:  CSL generally considers participation in tournaments such as the Marino Cup to be separate from divisional play or divisional playoffs for the purposes of tracking disciplinary actions.  CSL maintains the following discipline system of serious and/or persistent misconduct for in-season tournaments:

1)     Yellow cards (cautions).

a)     There shall be no initial fine for receiving a yellow card.

b)     Yellow cards do not carry over into divisional play and/or divisional playoffs. They are tracked within the Marino Cup tournament only.

c)     For every two yellow cards a player receives in Marino Cup play, that player must sit out his/her team’s next played Marino Cup game. A list of suspended players will be kept separately and provided for the referees prior to each round of tournament play. Players on this list are not permitted to play under any circumstances.

d)     For those players whose team has been eliminated from Marino Cup play, those cards will not be carried over into divisional play and/or divisional playoffs.  This includes if a player receives his/her second yellow card of the tournament in the game in which his/her team was eliminated.

2)     Red cards (ejections).  All red cards shall be assessed by the Rules and Discipline Committee to determine the severity of the infringement for which the ejection was received.

a)     Red cards received in Marino Cup play will be at the minimum a one-game suspension and a $20 fine.

b)     Red cards do not carry over into divisional play and/or divisional playoffs. They are tracked within the Marino Cup tournament only, unless they meet one of the following exceptions:

i)        The red card was received in the match in which his/her team was eliminated

ii)      The red card was received in the championship match of the tournament.

iii)     In both of these cases, the red card suspension will carry over to his/her team’s next played CSL game, whether it is in divisional play or divisional playoffs of the current or following season.

c)     Red carded player passes should be returned to the manager of the player’s team following the match, unless they meet one of the following exceptions:

i)        The red card was due to fighting

ii)      The red card was received by a player on the losing team

iii)     The red card was received in the championship match

iv)    In each of these cases, the referee will retain the pass and mail it to the CSL Registrar

d)     A list of suspended players will be kept separately and provided for the referees prior to each round of Marino Cup play. Players on this list are not permitted to play under any circumstances.

D)     OPERATIONAL PROCEDURE OF THE RULES AND DISCIPLINE COMMITTEE:  The CSL Rules and Discipline Committee shall conduct hearings and investigate and act upon serious violations of the League’s Policies and Procedures and Standards of Conduct. 

1)     Upon receipt of information from an official game card and/or referee report relating to any violation of section 5, Conduct, concerning undesirable behavior or violation of League policy, the Rules and Discipline Committee shall review the offense.  If necessary, the committee shall communicate with witnesses to obtain any information they may possess.

2)     If the Rules and Discipline Committee decides that the alleged offense has merit, the committee shall conduct an investigation and hearing. 

a)     An investigation is defined as the process by which the committee seeks out information relevant to the alleged violation. 

b)     A hearing is defined as a discussion of the alleged violation.  The discussion can occur in person, over the phone, or electronically.

3)     The two types of investigative and hearing processes are “Standard” and “Fast Track.” 

a)     Standard is a procedure where the Rules and Discipline Committee informs the relevant parties as stated below in 3c. 

b)     Fast Track is a procedure where a match official has already informed the alleged party of the offense and the League will impose predefined fines, restrictions, and/or suspensions as stated in Policies and Procedures.  The player’s right to appeal remains intact.  This procedure was created to eliminate the bureaucratic process of informing the relevant parties, because the relevant parties already know of the violations through a match official.  If the alleged offense involves any of the following items:  red card, yellow card, or accumulation of three (3) yellow cards, the Rules and Discipline Committee shall conduct a Fast Track investigative and hearing process.  Otherwise, the committee shall conduct a Standard process.

c)     The following procedure shall be performed if the investigative and hearing process is designated as Standard:

i)        The Chairman of the Rules and Discipline Committee shall inform the relevant parties as applicable (i.e., offender, manager, referee, witnesses).

ii)      The Chairman of the Rules and Discipline Committee shall communicate with the appropriate team manager, notify him/her of the offense set out, and inform him/her of the date, time, and location at which the Rules and Discipline Committee will meet to hear the case.

iii)     The Chairman of the Rules and Discipline Committee shall advise the offender of the offense or alleged violation and the date, time, location, and method of the hearing.  He/She shall further inform the offender that matters of rebuttal, mitigation, or extenuation may be presented in writing, in person, or by telephone, with the caution that defenses presented in writing must be in the hands of the Chairman of the Rules and Discipline Committee at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the scheduled hearing in order to be considered.

d)     The following procedure shall be performed if the investigative and hearing process is designated as Fast Track:

i)        The team manager or player must submit evidence within forty-eight (48) hours of the match in which the violation occurred.

ii)      The Rules and Discipline committee shall conduct a hearing immediately upon receipt of the game card.

4)     The Rules and Discipline Committee, with the Chairman presiding, shall consider all such cases utilizing such evidence as is available at the time.  A decision on the case of each individual shall be rendered by a majority vote.  A written decision shall be provided to the Vice President for review, and to the EBOD and the team manager after the review is complete.  Additional copies may be sent to other League officials as appropriate.

5)     All decisions of the Rules and Discipline Committee may be appealed to the Appeals Committee.

6)     Within seven (7) days of receiving written notice of a Rules and Discipline Committee decision, the appealing party must send to the League President, by registered mail, a written request for appeal accompanied by a check or money order for $100 payable to CSL.  If the appeal is upheld, the one hundred dollars ($100.00) will be refunded.

7)     The Appeals Committee shall meet within seven (7) days of receipt of a request for appeal to hear the case of the appealing party and the report of the Chairman of the Rules and Discipline Committee and (if necessary) any witnesses.

8) The decision of the Appeals Committee is final regarding all matters concerning CSL, Inc.  Matters concerning USASA, USSF, or FIFA Law may be appealed to MDCVSA.