Forms
Red Card Report for Level 5 and below
N.B.
- If you are 17 or under, please indicate this in the MOA report*
- Where possible, include contact details of witnesses who are prepared to submit a verbal or written statement of any alleged Match Official Abuse. Even if these witnesses agree to give evidence verbally, it is recommended that they make a written (outline) statement asap as there may be some delay before the case is heard.
- Each report should be sent no later than 9.00am on the second day after the match (e.g., Monday morning for Saturday games)
- Each report should be sent to the Constituent Body Disciplinary Secretary and the society’s Discipline Lead (discipline@srusr.co.uk). Local contacts are –
Staffordshire Kev Cantrill kevcantrill55@yahoo.co.uk
North Midlands Steve Biggs nmrfu.discsec@gmail.com
List of CB Disciplinary Secretaries
https://www.englandrugby.com/run/rules-governance/discipline#1737095712-1222663384
Information on the following topics can be found in ‘Disciplinary Information and Guidance Documents’
RFU Regulation 19 (Discipline)
RFU Guidance on Match Official Abuse
Guidance on Red Card Report Writing
Guidance on MOA Report Writing
The Disciplinary Process
Age Grade Disciplinary Procedure
Age Grade Sanction Table
Guidance notes on Age Grade Disciplinary Procedures
Policy re touchline behaviour NM Sept 2018 – released September 2018. This policy should be read prior to officiating in North Midlands. Despite its age it is still on the North Mids website!
FAQ’s
This section is to assist the both the Match Official and any Disciplinary panel in deciding the
appropriate action.
Submission of a MOA Report
Q. Can a Referee Coach submit a MOA report on behalf of the Referee?
A. Only the Match Official who was subject to any abuse can submit a report.
Q. Who can submit an MOA report
A. Any Match Official can submit a MOA report. It would then be for the relevant Disciplinary
Secretary to determine if charges should be issued.
Q. How long after a match can a Match Official submit a MOA report?
A. Regulations 19.4.1-19.4.6 stipulate that a report must be submitted shall as soon as practicable and by no later than 9am on the second day following the match
What should be considered as MOA?
Q. Can comments in the club house be considered as MOA?
A. If any abuse is aimed at a Match Official in relation to their performance in the role then the Match Official can submit a MOA report. This could relate to comments said to a Match Official in the Clubhouse.
Q. Can comments on social media be reported as MOA?
A. If the comments relate to the performance of a Match Official and are made by someone under the jurisdiction of the RFU then charges can be issued for any public comments, including those online.
Q. If a Match Official issues a Yellow Card for an offence, can they subsequently submit a MOA report
for the same offence?
A. If there is an incident that should be given a Red Card then this should be issued at the time of the
incident. The only exception to this is when a Match Official has been subject to Physical Contact and
has been able to form a different opinion having reviewed new information that was not available to
them at the time of the incident.
The discipline and sanctioning process
Q. Do the Disciplinary Panel have to follow the World Rugby approved sanction table?
A. If a Red Card is issued then the panel are bound by the sanction table. If an MOA report is issued
then the panel will treat the case as a breach of RFU Rule 5.12 and have the ability to consider any
sanction. Most panels will still use the WR sanction table as a guide but have the ability to consider
alternate sanctions and suspend an element of the sanction.
Q. What can the Disciplinary Panel do if the person responsible for any MOA is not under the
jurisdiction of the RFU?
A. The Disciplinary panel will investigate if they do have jurisdiction and if it is found that they do not
then they can give consideration to issuing charges against the relevant club for failure to control the
individual concerned.
Q. Why do Discipline Panels give mitigation to someone who is found guilty of MOA?
A. The RFU regulations detail what should be considered by any Panel when determining Entry Point
for sanction and then any Mitigation and Aggravation. Regardless of the type of offence a Panel
should consider all the relevant factors.
Q. Can a Match Official or Referee Society appeal the decision of a Discipline Panel?
A. Only the person subject to the charge and the RFU Head of Discipline have the right of appeal.
Q. How do I ask the RFU Head of Discipline to review the decision of the Discipline Panel?
A. The RFU has 14 days from the date of the written judgment to lodge any appeal so the Head of
Discipline should be notified well in advance of that deadline. It must also be noted that an Appeal is
not normally a re-hearing of a case, it is a review of the first instance decision.
Q. Is MOA towards a Young Match Official (YMO) a discipline or safeguarding offence?
A. Any MOA will be treated as a disciplinary offence, however, in certain circumstances the
Safeguarding team will be made aware of an incident.
Q. Will MOA decisions be published?
A. The RFU publish all judgments in full and it is expected that from the start of the 2022/23 season all MOA cases from every level will be listed on the EnglandRugby website.
Further FAQ’s
Q. Can a Coach or Club Officer approach the Referee at half time or after a match?
A. Regulation 12.5 states that no person can approach a Match Official at half time or within 30
minutes of the match without the permission of that Match Official.
FURTHER ADVICE AND ASSISTANCE
Advice on management of the touchline can be found at –
Whistle-Stop Managing the Touchline – YouTube
The SRUSR Discipline Lead is Paul Daniels
discipline@srusr.co.uk 07591 652444