Discipline, Appeals and Protests

Discipline Overview

Players, team officials, game officials and clubs, districts and leagues (and their appointees, volunteers and staff) have a duty and responsibility to conduct themselves appropriately while respecting the FIFA Laws of the Game, BC Soccer rules, regulations and policy and the rules of the clubs, districts and leagues.

BC Soccer Rule 9 - Judicial Matters provides BC Soccer broad responsibility to ensure the proper conduct of all individuals involved in sanctioned soccer. 

The Judicial Code & Policies of BC Soccer provide details on polices, procedures, and jurisdiction.

Are you looking for BC Soccer's Discipline Management System - CLICK HERE

Submitting a complaint: If you have a complaint that you feel meets the requirements with the Judicial Code & Polices of BC Soccer, please submit your completed Complaint Form with supporting information to the attention of the Judicial Chair, per 1.10 on page 14, to the e-mail address on the Complaint Form.

Judicial Process Flowchart / Complaint Review Process

Jurisdiction - BC Soccer: The Judicial Chair of BC Soccer holds the jurisdiction for discipline over all of its member organizations. The main areas in which BC Soccer administers discipline directly are:

- BC Soccer Provincial Championships and Regional Qualifying Competitions
- Club/District/League Administrators and Executives
- Egregious Offenses
- Referee Abuse
- Abuse Against Youth by an Adult
- Matters that are referred to BC Soccer for any number of reasons.

Jurisdiction - Full Member Organization (Youth Districts & Adult Leagues): Full Member Organizations of BC Soccer (Youth Districts and Adult Leagues) are empowered to handle any/all matters that relate to individuals and clubs that are registered within in them, unless specifically specified in BC Soccer’s Discipline Policy. For example, a player registered with a club under the jurisdiction of that Youth District. hat district or league that is ejected from a game, would be handled locally.

Exceptions to this are:
- if the person being brought to discipline is a District or league Administrator/Executive. This should be referred directly to BC Soccer.
- where the Youth Districts involved have given Jurisdiction to the Inter District League in which they participate.

Jurisdiction - Affiliated Soccer Organizations: Affiliated Soccer Organizations in general are empowered to handle any/all matters that are completely internal to the club itself. For example, teams and/or players that are not following the organization's Code of Conduct.

Exceptions to this would be if the person being brought to Discipline is a Club Administrator/Executive. This should be referred to their direct governing body to avoid any clear conflict of interest.

Jurisdiction - Youth Leagues: Youth Leagues have two main discipline functions.

1. To uphold discipline decisions imposed by the districts and by BC Soccer.

2. To administer discipline when the districts/clubs participating in the league have empowered them to do so.

Protests ($262.50 includes GST) - Please find BC Soccer's full Protest Policy in the Judicial Code & Policies of BC Soccer

A protest will only be considered on the grounds of misinterpretation of F.I.F.A. Laws of the Game, on the eligibility of players, or on breaches of Competition Rules & Regulations. An affiliated team may lodge a protest with a district, league or inter-district league arising out of any league or district cup game scheduled by a district, league or inter-district league.  Such protest must be in writing, stating the grounds upon which the protest is lodged.

A protest of any league, district or provincial cup game must be submitted within forty-eight (48) hours of the date of the match to which it relates.  In the event that the protest is mailed, the post-mark shall be taken as the limiting date in all cases.

A copy of the protest shall be forwarded by the association having jurisdiction to the opposing team within two (2) working days after the receipt of the protest.

The protest shall be signed by the team coach or manager, club or member association official.

The protest fee must accompany the protest when filed with the association having jurisdiction.

The fee (payable to the association having jurisdiction) shall be determined and circulated by the Association prior to March 15th annually, in advance of the forthcoming season.

Appeals ($525 includes GST) - Please find BC Soccer's full Appeals Policy in the Judicial Code & Policies of BC Soccer

Named parties of the decision from the following may apply to the Appeals Chair of BC Soccer for leave to appeal:

• A Youth District or Adult League
• An Inter-District Youth League
• A BC Soccer Committee
• The Judicial Chair and/or Discipline or Protest Panel

Appeals from the decision of a League under the jurisdiction of a District shall be made to such District.

A decision rendered may not be appealed if the sanction pronounced is:

• A warning
• A reprimand
• A suspension of three (3) or fewer matches or up to two (2) months
• A fine of up to $1000 imposed on a member or affiliated organization
• Decisions passed in compliance with the Judicial Code & Policies of BC Soccer
• Decisions passed in compliance with the Competition Rules & Regulations of BC Soccer or an affiliated organization where such decisions are final and binding.
• Decisions passed by a Protest Panel of BC Soccer during BC Soccer Provincial Cup Finals.

Any party intending to appeal shall inform the Appeals Chair of its intention to do so in writing within ten (10) business days of notification of the decision being appealed.

To submit an appeal, the appellant must apply in writing to the Appeals Chair within ten (10) business days after the receipt of the decision being appealed.

The written application to appeal must contain:

• Decision being appealed;
• Reason for Appeal;
• Notice to Other Party or Parties;
• Statement of facts;
• Rule or regulation that has been contravened;
• Remedy sought;
• The appeal fee as determined annually by BC Soccer’s board of directors.

Sanctions imposed, other than financial orders, remain in force until the Appeals procedure is completed.

Appeals to BC Soccer can be submitted to the Appeals Chair of BC Soccer via discipline@bcsoccer.net

Complete list of all BC Soccer Bylaws, Rules, Regulations & Policies