Open Age Un...bloody...believable

[Phonesurgeon]

Little rant,
Match day was 6/09/2025, player got binned, and while walking away, swore which earned him a straight red.
After full time he can back to give me more swearing.
Report in for both cards and misconduct.
Just had an email saying the player requested a personal hearing which will happen on 7/01/26
Some 4 months later...

 

[Egg man]

Just keep to the facts as in your report. The player and the club are just wasting the CFA time. They will probably end up with a higher fine and suspension.

 

[Phonesurgeon]

Done the personal hearing quite a few times, so I know the score... Just a little rant on how ridiculous this is

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

Done the personal hearing quite a few times, so I know the score... Just a little rant on how ridiculous this is

Just remember not to say "swore" during the hearing - use LOTG terminology, i. e. Offensive, Insulting, Abusive.

 

[Cestrian]

Little rant,
Match day was 6/09/2025, player got binned, and while walking away, swore which earned him a straight red.
After full time he can back to give me more swearing.
Report in for both cards and misconduct.
Just had an email saying the player requested a personal hearing which will happen on 7/01/26
Some 4 months later...

I had it worse last season, I sent a player off for calling me out for a fight in the car park post match. Game was on 2 November. Hearing in late March.

I’d refereed a further 30 games or so in the interim 5 months and although had a fair recollection and could confirm the contents of my report, I’d forgotten some of what happened on the day, just purely because of the time elapsed. That’s why important to word report correctly.

As an aside, surely there is a maximum timeframe for the FA to obtain the individuals view and hear the case from the incident? I seem to remember 90 days for some reason?

 

[Kent Ref]

I once reffed a game in September and sent a player off for calling me a "F****** Cheating C***"

In March i was asked to attend a hearing as the player had appealed.

When i asked about the delay the answer was "i just found this in my in-tray!"

That person was later promoted to a better job at the FA!.

 

[socal lurker]

As an outsider, I’m a bit confused by this—wouldn’t the player have already served the suspension?

 

[The Gump]

Little rant,
Match day was 6/09/2025, player got binned, and while walking away, swore which earned him a straight red.
After full time he can back to give me more swearing.
Report in for both cards and misconduct.
Just had an email saying the player requested a personal hearing which will happen on 7/01/26
Some 4 months later...

Almost identical thing happened to me earlier this season though player didn't request a personal hearing. Got two match suspension for, effectively, double OFFINABUS. Sums up why player and coach behaviour is where it is.

 

[es1]

Had an email through for a hearing on Tuesday at 6pm, from a game in October. Cheers for the notice ffs

 

[RustyRef]

It shouldn't take that long, but I do think CFAs are really badly impacted by very, very bad FA IT systems. I've started a new role this season that involves dealing with discipline for a league and have seen first hand just how bad the competitions and clubs portals are. They were clearly launched before they were ready and they should have swallowed their pride, delayed the launch and stuck with WGS for another season. It wasn't perfect but it was a whole lot better than the new portals. Several clubs have been flagged up as suspended when they weren't, and clubs that were actually suspended showed as suspension free, can't really trust anything I get shown on it.

 

[JamesL]

It shouldn't take that long, but I do think CFAs are really badly impacted by very, very bad FA IT systems. I've started a new role this season that involves dealing with discipline for a league and have seen first hand just how bad the competitions and clubs portals are. They were clearly launched before they were ready and they should have swallowed their pride, delayed the launch and stuck with WGS for another season. It wasn't perfect but it was a whole lot better than the new portals. Several clubs have been flagged up as suspended when they weren't, and clubs that were actually suspended showed as suspension free, can't really trust anything I get shown on it.

Its agile...

 

[RustyRef]

Its agile...

Using another IT acronym, MVP, meets the minimum but certainly not the viable.

 

[Archer]

It shouldn't take that long, but I do think CFAs are really badly impacted by very, very bad FA IT systems…

I started a competition admin role in July, and sacked it off in October. New “portals” are just ****e and was not worth my freely-given time.

 

[RustyRef]

I started a competition admin role in July, and sacked it off in October. New “portals” are just ****e and was not worth my freely-given time.

Did make me wonder what I'd let myself in for, thankfully has settled down a bit since.

 

[es1]

Had an email through for a hearing on Tuesday at 6pm, from a game in October. Cheers for the notice ffs

still waiting for the (promised) follow up email...no response to me emails to the discipline department. i'm on childcare duties tonight and need make dinner for the family - some sort of communication would be very much appreciated. absolute shambles

 

[JollyRoger]

I wouldn’t hold your breath I submitted a report to county for abuse I received refereeing a CC Final. So witnessed by everyone. May 2024. I’m still waiting for feedback.

 

[ChasObserverRefDeveloper]

I wouldn’t hold your breath I submitted a report to county for abuse I received refereeing a CC Final. So witnessed by everyone. May 2024. I’m still waiting for feedback.

If the alleged offender(s) pleaded guilty you would not expect to hear anything further.

 

[es1]

He's failed to show up. What a waste of time

 

[RustyRef]

I wouldn’t hold your breath I submitted a report to county for abuse I received refereeing a CC Final. So witnessed by everyone. May 2024. I’m still waiting for feedback.

You won't get feedback. The player will have been charged, if he accepts the charge, accepts it with a plea of mitigation, or denies it and requests a written hearing you won't have any involvement. You'd only be contacted if he denies it and requests a personal hearing.

 

[lincs22]

He's failed to show up. What a waste of time

That's happens half the time. Players appeal hoping that you can't attend, so they get off on a technicality.

So, they lose their appeal deposit (it's only money), get costs awarded against him and can get a larger fine.

You know to chak it up to experience

(And to nobble the ba****d next time you referee him ).