LEAGUE DISCIPLINE
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Reporting An Incident [Non Panel Umpires]
Except for Panel Umpires, the way that disciplinary or other complaints and protests are made has changed. Unless you are a panel umpire, you must submit your report using the proceedure laid out in the document entitled 'Reporting an Incident'.
Briefly, the revised process requires a 'claimant' to:
Report an incident within 24 hours only to the Disciplinary Officer
Having made the report there is then a five day maximum period during which the complainant must gather certain information.
After the five day period if the Disciplinary Officer believes the submissions are enough to issue charges against the respondent, he will do so.
If after five days the Disciplinary Officer does not believe that there is enough information in the submissions to allow a fair result a small panel will decide if the complaint should go forward, or not.
In 2024 there were a number of complaints made that had little chance of success due to the lack of independent witness statements and the information provided by both parties was so far apart that the panel had no chance but to declare the result as 'not proven'. All disciplinary investigations and subsequent hearings take up a lot of time and potential complainants are rquested to consider if there is enough information for as panel of Disciplinary Officer to issue a penalty.
Summary Disciplinary Process Reminder
When a player or players have been reported to the League by a panel umpire for an offence that is covered by a 'Summary Penalty' the Disciplinary Officer will forward a charge letter to the club in question. If the charge is accepted a lower penalty will be handed down. However, if the club or anybody connected to it attempt to dispute the charge or put forward arguments to any League Official or other party the penalty will automatically double and the club itself will be receive an additional penalty. Clubs who believe that the charge is incorrect or factually wrong should decline the charge and request a panel hearing without the need to argue with League Officials.