Yellow & Red Card Offence Minimum Discipline Penalties (Appendix C- ASA Rules & Regulations)

 Considerations:

1. The following penalties will be used for assigning suspensions for Red Card Offences referred to the ASA according to the Suspension Jurisdiction Chart in Appendix B. If the Accused is found guilty of an offence the suspension listed below is the minimum allowed under this policy.

2. Suspensions for offences falling under multiple categories will be assigned at the discretion of the ASA Discipline Committee.

3. All suspensions are served with the team with which they were received unless the discipline committee specifically mentions separate terms;
    a. Suspension games are counted against league games, promotional / relegation games, provincial qualifiers and provincials.
    b. If the team with which the suspension is received disbands the suspension will be served on equivalent games to the league in which the suspension
    was received.
       (i) This provision will also apply when a team no longer wishes to register a suspended player for a new season.
    c. Suspended parties have the option to fill out a “soccer activity” declaration explaining the effect of a suspension.
       (i) Offences for Appendix C 8, 9 and 10 cannot be considered for leniency based on the “soccer activity” declaration

4. Penalties assessed to Team Officials can be assessed at two times the listed penalty at the discretion of the ASA Discipline Committee.

5. Penalties assessed to Match Officials while acting as a Team Official or player can be assessed at two times the listed penalty at the discretion of the ASA Discipline Committee and all cases will be reviewed by the Referee Development Committee for further sanctions.

6. Penalties assessed to first time offending youth players can be reduced to a minimum of half of the applicable penalties at the discretion of the ASA Discipline Committee but only if associated probation, volunteerism or referee education expectations are provided for in the suspension.

7. The following equivalency chart can be used by the ASA Discipline Committee to assess penalties for leagues operating with limited game play, limited game play is defined as 8 or less games in 1 indoor or outdoor season;
    a. 4 – 8 Games = 25% - 50% of 1 season OR 1 month suspension
    b. 8 – 12 Games = 50% - 75% of 1 season OR 3 months suspension
    c. 12 – 16 Games = 75% - 100% of 1 season OR 6 months suspension
    d. 16 – 24 Games = 100% - 150% of 1 season OR 9 months suspension
    e. 24 – 32 Games = 150% - 200% of 1 season OR 1 year suspension

8. Match Officials = Referees, Assistant Referees, 4th Officials, Referee Assessors, and/or Referee Mentors

OFFENCES AGAINST PLAYERS, TEAM OFFICIALS or other INDIVIDUALS
1. Accumulation of Yellow Cards (one season or tournament including AMSL)*
    a. 3 yellow cards 1 game suspension
    b. 5th yellow card 1 game suspension
    c. 6th yellow card 2 game suspension
    d. 7 or more yellow cards Suspended until a discipline hearing
* Two yellow cards in one game will not be included in the above accumulation and is dealt with as a Red Card Ejection

2. Serious Foul Play (SFP) or Denying an obvious Goal Scoring Opportunity
    a. 1st Offence 1 – 2 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 3 – 4 game suspension
    c. 3rd Offence or more To be determined by Discipline Committee

3. Violent Conduct (VC) or Spitting at an individual (excluding Match Officials)
    a. 1st Offence 3 – 4 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 6 – 8 game suspension
    c. 3rd Offence or more To be determined by Discipline Committee

4. Boarding
    a. 1st Offence SFP 1 – 2 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence SFP 4 game suspension
    c. 3rd Offence SFP To be determined by Discipline Committee
    d. 1st Offence VC 3 – 4 game suspension
    e. 2nd Offence VC 8 game suspension
    f. 3rd Offence VC To be determined by Discipline Committee

OFFENCES AGAINST MATCH OFFICIALS
5. Persistent Criticism or disputing of decision;
    a. 1st Offence 1 - 2 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 3 - 4 game suspension
    c. 3rd Offence 8 - 12 game suspension
    d. 4th Offence or more To be determined by Discipline Committee

6. Use of Offensive, insulting, abusive language in disputing decisions;
    a. 1st Offence 2 - 4 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 5 - 8 game suspension
    c. 3rd Offence 9 - 16 game suspension
    d. 4th Offence or more To be determined by Discipline Committee

7. Unsportsmanlike Conduct, stealing game sheets, removal of jersey to prevent identification, refusal to provide name to a Match Official;
    a. 1st Offence 3 – 6 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 7 – 12 Game Suspension
    c. 3rd Offence or more To be determined by Discipline Committee

8. Threatening, attempting to intimidate or intimidating a Match Official or people close to a Match Official (i.e. – spouse / partner, family, colleague, relatives) on the field;
    a. 1st Offence 12 - 16 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 24 - 32 game suspension
    c. 3rd Offence or More To be determined by Discipline Committee

9. Threatening, attempting to intimidate or intimidating a Match Official, or people close to a Match Official (i.e. – spouse / partner, family, colleague, relatives) on the field and continuing off the field after the game;
    a. 1st Offence 24 - 32 game suspension
    b. 2nd Offence 2 – 5 year suspension
    c. 3rd Offence or More To be determined by Discipline Committee

10. Physical Contact with Match Officials Penalties
    a. Incidental
        i. 1st Offence 5 - 6 game suspension
       ii. 2nd Offence or more To Be Determined by Discipline Committee
    b. Deliberate touching with no Violent Conduct (striking or attempting to strike, includes grabbing of yellow / red cards)
        i. 1st Offence 12 -16 game suspension
       ii. 2nd Offence or more To be determined by Discipline Committee
    c. Deliberate Violent Conduct (striking or attempting to strike including spitting)
        i. 1st Offence 2 – 5 year Suspension
       ii. 2nd Offence or more Lifetime Ban

11. Accumulation of Red Cards in a Calendar year
    a. If any player gets 3 red cards in one year they can be brought in front of a Discipline Committee with potential additional suspensions beyond the
     scope of their standard Discipline

12. Breach of ASA Code of Conduct – including, but not limited to, offences related to racism, homophobia, misogyny, sexual harassment, bullying and other forms of harassment.
    a. 1st Offence 1 Year to Lifetime Ban
        i. Must include a minimum of 1 year probation,