RUGBY LEAGUE JUDICIARY PROCEDURES

Transcription

1 RUGBY LEAGUE JUDICIARY PROCEDURES 1. Lodgment of Reports Without Match Video (a) (b) The referee and/or touch judge may charge a player with an offence as listed on the Charge Description List. A charge may be laid whether the player was sent from the field or not. The referee or touch judge will grade the offence as to its severity, as follows: Grade 1 Least Severe Grade 2 Severe Grade 3 Most Severe The charge and the grading are recorded on the Referee Incident Report. (c) (d) The referee association will provide a copy of the Referee Incident Report to an official of the player s club on the day of the match and also to the General Manager by no later than 12 noon on the first working day after the game, normally Monday. The General Manager will calculate the Base Penalty using the Offences Table together with the grading indicated on the Referee Incident Report. The Base Penalty does not take into account an early plea or a player s past record. If the player has been previously convicted of an offence (whether similar to the current offence or not) over the past two years, the player is liable to an increase equivalent to 25% of the Base Penalty for each previous offence. If a player has played grade football for two or more years and has not been convicted of an offence, the player is entitled to a reduction equivalent to 25% of the Base Penalty. The method of calculation for a Grade 1 Reckless High Tackle is as follows: Base Penalty Prior offence in last two years (25% increase on Base Penalty) Carry-over points, say Clean record in last two years (25% reduction on Base Penalty) Total Demerit Points 300 points 75 points 50 points -75 points 350 points (e) (f) The General Manager will inform the charged player s club of the details of the offence as well as the total number of demerit points that the player has incurred and the corresponding penalty. The charged player s club must enter a written plea of either guilty or not guilty to the General Manager by 5pm on the day that it has been advised of the charge, normally Monday. A guilty plea will result in a 25% reduction of the Total Demerit Points. In the example shown above, the new penalty is as follows: Total demerit points 350 Less early guilty plea (25% of 350 = 88) Total Demerit Points after early guilty plea 262

2 A not guilty plea will result in the player facing the judiciary. (g) (h) (i) (j) If the club advises the General Manager that the player accepts the penalty as calculated, the General Manager will take appropriate action to ensure that the sentence is enforced and any carry-over demerit points are documented. If the player does not accept the calculated penalty, the General Manager will convene the league s Judiciary Panel which will meet by no later than the third working day after the game, normally Wednesday. A club may lodge an appeal against penalties determined by the Judiciary by advising the General Manager no later than 24 hours after the Judiciary Hearing. An Appeal may only be lodged on the basis of new evidence not previously presented. (e.g. new video evidence). A non-refundable fee of $100 must accompany any request for appeal. If an appeal is approved, the General Manager shall convene a tribunal consisting of himself and up to two other officials nominated by the league, one of whom may be a lawyer. The proposed penalty will be set aside until the appeal has been heard. 2. Lodgment of Reports With Match Video (a) The referee and/or touch judge may charge a player with an offence as listed on the Charge Description List. A charge may be laid whether the player was sent from the field or not. The charge is recorded on the Referee Incident Report. (b) (c) The referee association will provide a copy of the Referee Incident Report to an official of the player s club on the day of the match and also to the General Manager by no later than 12 noon on the first working day after the game, normally Monday. The General Manager will convene a Match Review Committee, consisting of himself and at least one other person nominated by the league. The Match Review Committee will view the official match video and grade the offence as to its severity, as follows: Grade 1 Least Severe Grade 2 Severe Grade 3 Most Severe Note - the Match Review Committee can only grade the offence; they cannot upgrade, downgrade or cancel the charge. Only the Judiciary has the power to downgrade an offence, subject to the evidence presented. On rare occasions, the Match Review will not recommend a grading because of the seriousness of an incident. In such instances the charge will be automatically referred to the Judiciary. The Match Review Committee may also charge a player who is not the subject of a Referee Incident Report. In this case, the General Manager will advise the charged player s club and the normal process will be followed.

3 (d) The General Manager will calculate the Base Penalty using the Offences Table together with the grading provided by the Match Review Committee. The Base Penalty does not take into account an early plea or a player s past record. If the player has been previously convicted of an offence (whether similar to the current offence or not) over the past two years, the player is liable to an increase equivalent to 25% of the Base Penalty for each previous offence. If a player has played grade football for two or more years and has not been convicted of an offence, the player is entitled to a reduction equivalent to 25% of the Base Penalty. The method of calculation for a Grade 1 Reckless High Tackle is as follows: Base Penalty Prior offence in last two years (25% increase on Base Penalty) Carry-over points, say Clean record in last two years (25% reduction on Base Penalty) Total Demerit Points 300 points 75 points 50 points -75 points 350 points (e) (f) The General Manager will inform the charged player s club of the details of the offence as well as the total number of demerit points that the player has incurred and the corresponding penalty. The charged player s club must enter a written plea of either guilty or not guilty to the General Manager by 5pm on the day that it has been advised of the charge, normally Monday. A guilty plea will result in a 25% reduction of the Total Demerit Points. In the example shown above, the new penalty is as follows: Total demerit points 350 Less early guilty plea (25% of 350 = 88) Total Demerit Points after early guilty plea 262 A not guilty plea will result in the player facing the judiciary. (g) (h) (i) (j) If the club advises the General Manager that the player accepts the penalty as calculated, the General Manager will take appropriate action to ensure that the sentence is enforced and any carry-over demerit points are documented. If the player does not accept the calculated penalty, the General Manager will convene the league s Judiciary Panel which will meet by no later than the third working day after the game, normally Wednesday. A club may lodge an appeal against penalties determined by the Judiciary by advising the General Manager no later than 24 hours after the Judiciary Hearing. An Appeal may only be lodged on the basis of new evidence not previously presented. (e.g. new video evidence). A non-refundable fee of $100 must accompany any request for appeal. If an appeal is approved, the General Manager shall convene a tribunal consisting of himself and up to two other officials nominated by the league, one of whom may be a lawyer. The proposed penalty will be set aside until the appeal has been heard.

4 3. Charge Description List Description of Misconduct A player is guilty of misconduct if he trips A player is guilty of misconduct if he kicks A player is guilty of misconduct if he strikes intentionally recklessly intentionally carelessly A player is guilty of misconduct if he drops his knees into an opponent who is on the ground A player is guilty of misconduct if he uses any dangerous throw when effecting a tackle A player is guilty of misconduct if he deliberately breaks the laws of the game A player is guilty of misconduct if he uses offensive or obscene language A player is guilty of misconduct if he disputes a decision of the referee or touch judge A player is guilty of misconduct if he re-enters the Field of Play without the permission of the referee or touch judge having previously temporarily retired from the game A player is guilty of misconduct if he behaves in a way contrary to the true spirit of the game A player is guilty of misconduct if he deliberately obstructs an opponent who is not in possession A player is guilty of misconduct if he behaves in a manner which is detrimental to the interests, welfare or image of the league or rugby league football Short Description Tripping Kicking Striking Intentional High tackle Reckless High Tackle Careless High Tackle Dropping Knees Dangerous Throw Law Breaking Offensive Language Disputing Decision Re-entering Play Contrary Conduct Obstructing Detrimental Conduct

5 4. Offences Table SHORT DESCRIPTION OF OFFENCE DEMERIT POINTS GRADE 1 GRADE 2 GRADE 3 Tripping Kicking Striking Intentional High Tackle Reckless High Tackle Careless High Tackle Dropping Knees Dangerous Throw Law Breaking Offensive Language Disputing Decision Re-entering Player Contrary Conduct Obstructing Detrimental Conduct Demerit Points Suspensions Each 100 points received by a player will result in a one-match suspension. For example, a penalty of 275 points will result in the player receiving a two-match suspension, with the remaining 75 points staying on the player s record for 12 calendar months as carry-over points.