Over the last few weeks the Football Federation SA (FFSA) has received an upsurge in the number of reports relating to inappropriate behaviour by players, team officials and spectators. This is having a very negative impact on the sport.

There are a number of procedures that are in place to deal with inappropriate behaviour, which are to be actioned by the appointed match official/s. The FFSA have sent out a directive to all match officials reaffirming these procedures and that they are required to be implemented.

To assist clubs and affiliated associations, the procedures are outlined below. All clubs have a responsibility to ensure that their players, team officials and spectators adhere to the FFSA Codes of Conducts. 

 

Technical Areas

In relation to technical areas, Match Officials have been reminded that participants of the technical area should only consist of active participants of the game and nominated Team Officials.

FIFA Laws of the Game provide the following guidelines in relation to Technical Areas:  

•             The technical area extends 1 metre on either side of the designated seated    area and extends forward up to a distance of 1 metre from the touch line. 

•             The number of persons permitted to occupy the technical area is defined by the competition rules.  

•             The occupants of the technical area are identified before the beginning of the match in accordance with the competition rules, this being the substitutes and team officials. Injured players are not permitted to be in the technical area. 

•             Only one person at a time is authorised to convey tactical instructions from the technical area, all other participants must be seated. 

•             The coach and other team officials must remain within its confines except in special circumstances, e.g. a physiotherapist or doctor entering the field of play, with the referee's permission, to assess an injured player. 

•             The coach and other occupants of the technical area must behave in a responsible manner.

•             It should be noted that only substitutes and substituted players can be issued sanctions               (Yellow and Red Cards) by the match referee.

With the above in mind, FFSA Match Officials have been provided with the following directive to ensure all participants behave in an appropriate manner. It must be noted that all players and team officials are required to abide by the FFSA Codes of Conduct.

ASK – If a person within the technical area is displaying inappropriate behaviour, the first stage of the process is for the Match Official to ask the participants to modify their behaviour and remind them of the responsibilities of being in the Technical Area.

TELL – If the behaviour continues, the Match Official will immediately tell the offending participant to modify their behaviour or they will be removed from the Technical Area.

 REMOVE –  If telling the participant does not modify the behaviour, the final step is for the offending participant to be removed from the technical area. This action must be undertaken by the match official and the game is not to continue until the person has moved away from the technical area and the immediate surrounds. 

If the person refuses to leave the technical area, the match official is to abandon the game. Any removal of a team official must be followed up with an incident report to the FFSA within 48 hours of the game being played. The above procedure is clearly outlined and a match official is not to engage team officials anymore than is outlined above. 

 

Spectator Behaviour

 The FFSA has provided to all clubs and affiliated associations a Spectator Code of Conduct that all spectators must abide by when entering a club venue. Match Officials have a clear responsibility to ensure that games are played in accordance with this conduct.

If a match official is experiencing or witnessing inappropriate behaviour, the following process is to be implemented:

ASK – If spectators are displaying inappropriate behaviour, the first stage of the process is for the Match Official/s to ask the ground steward to address the spectators of their club and request that the behaviour be modified.

TELL – If the behaviour of the spectators continues, the Match Officials will tell the Ground Steward to either get the spectators to refrain from the behaviour or direct them to the leave the venue.

ADBANDON – If there is no change in the behaviour, the match official is to abandon the game and leave the field of play. 

If a game is abandoned, the match official/s must submit a report to the FFSA within 48 hours. The information outlined above must be implemented by all Match Officials and is to be actioned with immediate effect.

Although the match officials have a responsibility to implement these procedures, all clubs and affiliated associations are responsible for the behaviour of their players, team officials and spectators and for developing a culture that rejects inappropriate behaviour. Clubs must take the required action to stamp out bad behaviour displayed by their players, team officials or spectators.

It must be remembered that the behaviour of players, team officials and spectators is a reflection on your club. By working together the FFSA and clubs can create a positive environment for all participants.