Kent Cricket League
General Conduct Regulations
Index
KCL General Conduct Regulations Page Reference
Section 1 – Introduction (2)
Section 2 – Conduct Obligations (4)
Section 3 – Disciplinary Process (7)
Section 4 – Personal Hearing (9)
Section 5 – Sanctions (11)
Section 6 – Sanction Guidelines (13)
Appendices Page Reference
Document 1 – Umpires Indemnity (14)
Document 2 – Spirit of Cricket (15)
Document 3 – Discipline Points Penalties (Tier 1A) (16)
Date of Last Amendments – 22.02.24
Approved by Clubs at AGM – February 2024
Kent Cricket League General Conduct Regulations – adopted for season 2024
KCL General Conduct Regulations
Section 1 – Introduction
1. The England & Wales Cricket Board [ECB) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of behaviour and conduct in the game of cricket. The ECB Premier Leagues, including the Kent Cricket League (KCL), will operate within the jurisdiction of the ECB, share this commitment, and take it very seriously.
2. The ECB issued in 2022 its General Conduct Regulations for Recreational Cricket (GCR) and the use of these is mandatory for all ECB Premier Leagues. Leagues are empowered to adapt the GCR, as they feel appropriate for their own local needs, provided the general principles and processes to be used are consistent. This document defines the disciplinary process that will apply to all matches in the jurisdiction of the KCL.
3. The purpose of the GCR is to set consistent standards of conduct and behaviour and provide a single set of regulations, which can be applied consistently at the top end of recreational cricket. This will ensure that disciplinary matters are dealt with in a fair, efficient and consistent manner by cricket organisations and aid cricket organisations when establishing and running their disciplinary processes. The regulations also contain sanction guidelines, which will ensure there is more consistency across recreational cricket. It is to the benefit of cricket that broadly the same process and sanctions that will apply to a participant, whether they are based in the North-East or the South-West. Conducting a fair and transparent disciplinary process will also help to protect cricket organisations from legal or reputational damage.
4. For all matches within its jurisdiction the KCL is responsible for both the disciplinary process and the appeal process. The KCL remains committed to working with Clubs who play in the league. Whilst retaining responsibility for ensuring all disciplinary issues are dealt with appropriately and in keeping with the requirements of the GCR, the KCL will, where appropriate, continue to expect each Club to engage with the KCL and apply appropriate sanctions on all participants from the Club.
5. The regulations cover both on-field offences and off-field offences (such as inappropriate comments on social media). As cricket organisations will be aware, there has been (and will no doubt continue to be), an increase in cases involving off-field offences and the regulations will help cricket organisations to navigate the disciplinary process when such complex issues arise.
6. Whereas the General Conduct Regulations deal with poor behaviour, generally reported by an umpire/witness, the responsibility for upholding standards of behaviour always lies squarely with the Clubs, and particularly the captain of each team on the day.
Note: The Spirit of Cricket, which is now incorporated in the Laws of Cricket (and is set out in Appendix 2).
7. All Clubs must take a firm stand to uphold high standards of behaviour, whether an incident is reported or not, and to ensure that any appropriate action is taken.
Each member Club MUST have in place a disciplinary procedure within its own rules.
8. Every player registered to play in the KCL explicitly acknowledges by virtue of their registration the constitution of the KCL and in particular the powers of the KCL in relation to conduct and breaches of the rules, including the procedures specified and undertakes to be bound by them, including the powers of suspension, without recourse to appeal unless such appeal is so specified.
Section 2 – Conduct Obligations
On and around the field of play
1. Any cricketer shall be in breach of these regulations, at the relevant level of offence detailed below, if they do not conduct themselves fairly and properly on and around the field of play and otherwise in accordance with the Laws of Cricket or the Spirit of Cricket. Such conduct, which will result in a breach of these regulations, shall include any misconduct of a cricketer on any match day as specified in Law 42 of the Laws of Cricket, namely:
** Offence Levels **
Level 1
(a) Willfully mistreating any part of the cricket ground or any equipment or implements used in the match.
(b) Showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action.
(c) Using language that, in the circumstances, is obscene, offensive, or insulting.
(d) Appealing excessively.
(e) Advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing.
(f) Any other misconduct, the nature of which is equivalent to a Level 1 offence.
Level 2
(a) Showing serious dissent at an umpire’s decision by word or action.
(b) Making inappropriate and deliberate physical contact (direct or indirect) with another cricketer.
(c) Throwing the ball at a cricketer, umpire, or another person in an inappropriate and dangerous manner.
(d) Using language or gesture to another cricketer, umpire, team official or spectator that, in the circumstances, is obscene or of a seriously insulting nature.
(e) Any other misconduct, the nature of which is equivalent to a Level 2 offence.
Level 3
(a) Intimidating an umpire by language or gesture; and/or
(b) Threatening to assault a cricketer or any other person except an umpire; or
(c) Any other misconduct, the nature of which is equivalent to a Level 3 offence.
Level 4
(a) Threatening to assault an umpire.
(b) Making inappropriate and deliberate and/or dangerous physical contact (direct or indirect) with an umpire.
(c) Physically assaulting a cricketer or any other person; and/or
(d) Committing any other act of violence.
(e) Any other misconduct, the nature of which is equivalent to a Level 4 offence.
2. A cricketer shall also be in breach of these regulations on and around the field of play if they:
(a) commit any breach of Law 41; or
(b) act in a manner contrary to the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Code; or
(c) conduct themselves in a manner or act in a manner which is improper, or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket, or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute.
3. Any coach, match official or Club official shall be in breach of these regulations if they fail to conduct themselves fairly and properly on any part of the cricket ground on any match day. Conduct, which is not fair and proper and will therefore result in a breach of these regulations shall include, but not be limited to:
(a) making inappropriate and deliberate and/or dangerous physical contact with, threatening to assault, physically assaulting or committing any act of violence towards any other participant (including an umpire) or any member of the public;
(b) showing dissent at an umpire’s decision by language or gesture, advancing towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing or intimidating an umpire by language or gesture;
(c) using language that, in the circumstances, is obscene, offensive, insulting or seriously insulting;
(d) making an obscene or seriously insulting gesture;
(e) conducting themselves in a manner or acting in a manner which is improper, or which may be prejudicial to the interests of cricket, or which may bring the ECB, the game of cricket or any cricketer or group of cricketers into disrepute; and/or
(f) acting in a manner contrary to the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Code.
4. If an umpire considers that there has been an on-field breach, they must make reasonable efforts to inform the individual (or their captain or a Club official) before they leave the ground and make a written report to the KCL Discipline Manager (DM). This written report shall be made irrespective of any action the umpire may have taken on the field of play. Other individuals can also report on-field breaches either to the umpire, in which case the umpire will make a written report, or to the DM directly by way of written report (for example, if the on-field breach relates to a match official). If there is no umpire appointed to a particular match, individuals can report on-field breaches to a captain or Club official who can then make a written report to the DM on their behalf.
Captain / Team Responsibility
5. If any cricketer commits two or more breaches (Conduct Obligations on and around the field of play), which take place during or immediately before or after a match, when playing for the same Club in a season it shall automatically be a separate offence of failing to ensure that the relevant cricketers have complied with their obligations for each of:
(a) any person who captained the team in each of the relevant match(es); and
(b) the Club the cricketer was playing for.
6. Clubs shall also be held responsible for disorderly behaviour at any part of the cricket ground on any match day by their members and spectators, unless they can show that:
(a) they took adequate steps to ensure that their members and spectators behaved in an orderly fashion; and/or
(b) they did not or could not control entry to that part of the cricket ground by the relevant spectators and it would therefore not be fair for them to be held responsible.
Off-field conduct
7. A participant shall be in breach of these regulations if they commit any misconduct as set out below which either relates to their participation in recreational Cricket and/or is of a sufficiently serious nature to justify disciplinary action being taken in relation to their participation in recreational Cricket:
(a) making an abusive, obscene, offensive or otherwise insulting comment or gesture (in any form) in relation to any other participant or any other person;
(b) any act of violence towards another person;
(c) engaging in behaviour that constitutes any form of abuse or harassment, whether physical, sexual, emotional, neglectful or bullying in nature;
(d) any breach of the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code;
(e) making any adverse public statement or comment in any form and by any means about the performance and/or decision(s) of any match official(s);
(f) failing to report to their Club, any relevant criminal offence for which they have been subject to investigation and/or charged with;
(g) conducting themselves in a manner, or doing or omitting to do anything which is or may be prejudicial to the best interests of cricket, or which may bring or does bring the game of cricket or the ECB into disrepute; engaging in any corrupt conduct in relation to cricket, in particular:
(i) fixing the result, progress, conduct or any aspect of a match;
(ii) ensuring the occurrence of a particular incident in a match;
(iii) accepting a bribe to conduct the activities described in (a) or (b) above; and/or
(iv) receiving a custodial sentence for any of the activities described in (a)-(c) above; and/or
(h) failing to comply with any decisions or sanctions validly imposed on them following due process as prescribed by these regulations.
8. A Club shall be in breach of these regulations if, at any time:
(a) it fails to take reasonable steps to ensure the good behaviour and conduct of their participants for any breach of these regulations;
(b) it knowingly permits a cricketer who is suspended as a result of a previous breach of these regulations to play in any match or competition;
(c) any of its participants commit any serious, collective or repeated breaches of these regulations;
(d) it commits any breach of its obligations under the ECB Anti-Discrimination Code; and/or
(e) it fails to comply with any decision(s) and/or sanction(s) validly imposed on it or on any person within the organisation, which has arisen following due process as prescribed by these regulations.
9. Participants are considered responsible for any relevant posts on their social media accounts and may be in breach of these regulations for posting, repeating, commenting or supporting posts or comments by others (e.g. ‘retweeting’ or ‘liking’) on social media.
Section 3 – Disciplinary Process
1. The disciplinary process commences on receipt of a written report via email to kcldiscipline@outlook.com
This MUST be by 5pm Monday following the match at which the alleged incident took place or within seven [7] days after the event occurred, in the case of off-field conduct.
In exceptional circumstances, if the written report cannot be sent within these deadlines,
a phone call MUST be made to the DM to explain the brief nature of the report and why it can’t be sent in time.
Any reports submitted after these deadlines, without a phone call being made, will not be considered.
2. ALL reports will be investigated by the DM or Deputy DM. The investigation MUST be concluded within fourteen [14] days after the written report of the alleged incident is received.
3. The DM must consider whether there is sufficient information and/or grounds to charge the relevant participant or Club with a breach of these regulations.
If further information is required, the DM shall conduct any further investigation that is necessary within fourteen [14] days of the receipt of the written report.
4. If the DM considers that there is sufficient information and/or grounds, the DM will issue a charge letter (outlining the alleged offence and offence level) to the respondent (or the participant’s Club to share with the participant charged).
If the DM considers that there is not, the DM will inform the individual who submitted the report that no further action will be taken and will provide written reasons why.
5. If a participant is charged with a Level 4 offence or a repeat offence where there is a realistic chance of a match ban of ten [10] or more matches or expulsion from the KCL, the participant will be automatically suspended from ALL cricket activities until the case has been dealt with. In that case, the hearing MUST be completed within fourteen [14] days unless dispensation has been granted by the Independent Discipline Adjudicator (IDA) and written reasons for the delay given to the participant charged.
6. If the charge and level of offence is accepted by the participant/Club, the case will be heard by an IDA. They will be totally independent of the KCL. They will then decide the applicable sanction. The respondent may accept the charge but elect to have a personal hearing so that the IDA can hear their plea of mitigation. This will normally be heard no later than fourteen [14] days after the charge being accepted.
(See Section 4 in relation to personal hearings).
7. If the alleged charge or offence level is not accepted, the respondent can have their case considered by the IDA on the basis of written statements alone or they can elect to have a personal hearing.
(See Section 4 in relation to personal hearings).
8. The IDA will determine whether the alleged offence(s) has been committed and if so, at what level. ALL decisions by an IDA or by an Appeal Panel (see below) will be accompanied by full written reasons. These written reasons will be provided to the DM and the respondent and their Club, normally within three [3] working days of the hearing’s completion. The burden of proof for all decisions made is based upon the civil test of ‘balance of probabilities’, that is whether the offence is more likely than not to have occurred.
9. The IDA’s decision can be appealed to an Appeal Panel by the relevant participant or their Club or by the Chair of the KCL. The appeal hearing will consist of an IDA (that did not hear the original case) who will Chair the Appeal Panel, and two members of staff from Kent Community Cricket. The Appeal Panel’s decision will be final and there is no further right of appeal.
10. There is no right of appeal for (i) any Level 1 offence or (ii) any sanction in Tier 1A / Cup competitions where one or more panel umpires are officiating, and the report(s) is by panel umpire(s) except where there is a case of mistaken identity and this is backed by video evidence or where the alleged offence is committed by a panel umpire.
11. The notice of appeal must contain at least one of the following grounds of appeal.
i) The IDA came to a decision to which no reasonable Adjudicator could have come to regarding verdict only.
ii) There was a serious procedural irregularity, which includes the IDA or DM not following the procedure set out in these regulations, in a way which significantly impacted the rights of the appellant to have a fair hearing and caused the decision to be unjust.
iii) There is fresh evidence (in which case the notice of appeal must state why the evidence could not be presented at the original hearing or before the original decision was made and is, or would have been, material to the decision).
iv) The sanction imposed was manifestly excessive or lenient by reference to the sanction provisions of these regulations.
(See Section 5 and 6 below in relation to Sanctions).
12. The Appeal Panel will consider whether the grounds for appeal have been made out. Where an appeal is not upheld, the Appeal Panel can implement a new sanction that may differ from (and may be greater than) the original sanction. The Appeal Panel will make its decision based on written statements, unless the appellant requests a personal hearing.
(See Section 4 in relation to personal hearings).
Section 4 – Personal Hearing
1. An individual subject to a charge or who wishes to appeal against the decision of the IDA may request a personal hearing.
To do so, the respondent shall submit:
a) A notice of a personal hearing/appeal/plea of mitigation to the DM via email to kcldiscipline@outlook.com within seven [7] days of receipt of the charge or, in the case of an appeal, within seven [7] days of receipt of the decision in writing. This must include their reasons for a personal hearing/appeal/plea of mitigation.
b) An invoice for £300 to cover the standard administrative costs of a personal hearing will be issued to the participant or the participant’s Club. This must be paid before the personal hearing commences or agreed via email to be added to the Club’s next invoice. If the personal hearing/appeal is successful, the participant/the participant’s Club will be refunded in full, along with a credit note.
c) The participant can appeal the decision of the personal hearing before the IDA following the above procedure. If as a consequence a second personal hearing is held, a further £300 invoice will be issued.
2. Personal hearings will be heard via Microsoft TEAMS on weekday evenings only.
(a) The IDA will Chair personal hearings and the DM will act as Secretary.
(b) The DM will run through the finer details of how the hearing works with all participants in advance of the hearing.
(c) Evidence will be heard from witnesses of the alleged incident first. The IDA will then ask any questions of the witnesses. The respondent can then ask any questions they may have of the witnesses. This is repeated for all witnesses. Once all questions of the witnesses have been asked, they will be asked to leave the meeting and they will play no further part in the hearing. Any other relevant evidence, e.g. pictures/video footage/screenshots etc. can be exhibited by the Secretary at request of the IDA where applicable.
(d) The respondent will then give evidence and the IDA will ask any questions. The respondent then can call their witnesses/present any other evidence. The respondent can then ask their witnesses any questions. The IDA will then ask any questions of the respondent’s witnesses. The IDA can ask questions first at the discretion of the respondent.
(e) The respondent will then have an opportunity to sum up their defence to the charge. They cannot add any new evidence at this stage.
(f) The IDA will then confirm that the respondent has had the opportunity to present all their evidence and that they have had a fair hearing. The IDA will then make their decision.
(g) If the charge is not proved, that is the end of the hearing; the hearing fee referred to in paragraph 1 of this Section will be returned as set out in that paragraph. If the charge is found proved, the Secretary will read out the respondent’s discipline record for the last 3 years. The respondent can give any mitigation to the IDA to take into consideration before deciding any sanction.
(h) The IDA will make their decision and the respondent will be notified of the decision by the Secretary. This concludes the hearing. The reasons for the IDA’s decision will be provided in writing, normally within three [3] working days, whether the case is proved or not.
(i) The process on an appeal is the same, apart from there will be three [3] members of the Appeal Panel as referred to in Section 3 above.
(j) ALL under 18 participants in the hearing MUST be accompanied by an appropriate adult who cannot take part in the hearing. Special protocols are in place for when children give their evidence, including only the Chair being able to ask questions and where applicable cameras of other participants will be turned off.
(k) Only participants who are 12 years and over can be charged or be a witness in a hearing.
Section 5 – Sanctions
Paragraphs 1-7 below set out the standard sanctions that apply. The IDA or Appeal Panel can deviate from these standard sanctions in the circumstances set out in paragraph 8 below.
1. Any participant guilty of a Level 1 offence shall be suspended by their Club for a minimum of the next ONE league match played.
The Club will also be fined a sum between £0 – £125.
2. Any participant guilty of a Level 2 offence shall be suspended by their Club for a minimum of the next TWO league matches played.
The Club will also be fined a sum between £125 – £250.
3. Any participant guilty of a Level 3 offence shall be suspended by their Club for a minimum of the next SIX league matches played.
The Club will also be fined a sum between £250 – £375.
4. Any participant guilty of a level 4 offence shall be suspended by their Club for a minimum of the next TEN league matches played.
The Club will also be fined a sum between £375 – £500.
5. If the participant guilty of an offence is the captain (of the team at the time of the incident) their suspension by their Club will be doubled. The fine will remain the same.
6. If the offence is aggravated by a breach of the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Code the sanction (ban & fine) MUST be uplifted. The uplift MUST be shown in the written reasons. The amount of uplift is at the discretion of the IDA/Appeal Panel.
7. Any participant guilty of a repeat offence in any one season, will be sanctioned as per the table below:
Level / Offence |
1st |
2nd |
3rd |
4th |
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Level 1 |
1 / £0 – £125 |
2 / £0 – £125 |
6 / £125 – £250 |
18 / £250 – £375 |
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Level 2 |
2 / £125 – £250 |
4 / £125 – £250 |
12 / £250 – £375 |
Exp. / £375 – £500 |
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Level 3 |
6 / £250 – £375 |
12 / £250 – £375 |
Exp. / £375 – £500 |
n/a |
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Level 4 |
10 / £375 – £500 |
Exp. / £375 – £500 |
n/a |
n/a |
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The match bans as indicated above are for KCL matches and are minimum guidelines. |
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8. The IDA or Appeal Panel can deviate from the standard sanctions in paragraphs 1-7 above including, but not limited to: |
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In considering whether to so deviate the IDA or Appeal Panel will take into account the Sanction Guidelines in Section 6 below. |
9. Suspensions will be carried over to the following season if applicable.
10. A participant suspended for any reason shall not be selected to participate in Kent League representative matches in the season or seasons in which the suspension applies.
11. Any participant who is expelled from the KCL shall NOT be invited to join any other Kent League Club or Umpire’s Panel at any time in the future.
12. Written summaries of proved/accepted cases and appeals that were not upheld will be displayed on the KCL website unless the IDA or Appeal Panel state in their written reasons that they should not be published and the reasons why.
Cases where the respondent is Under 18 will not be published.
Section 6 – Sanction Guidelines
1. The IDA or Appeal Panel shall consider all aggravating and mitigating factors when determining the appropriate sanction.
2. These may include but not limited to:
Aggravating factors
(a) The ages of the participant and any victim at the time of the offence, particularly where the victim was a child, and the participant was not.
(b) The profile of the participant, including whether they hold a position of responsibility within their club (e.g. club/team captain, chair, or member of senior management).
(c) Any previous disciplinary record over the previous three years. (This is not applicable for repeat offences in the same season, the sanction guidelines already reflect this aggravating factor).
(d) Failure to cooperate with the DM whilst conducting the investigation or during relevant hearing.
(e) Any attempt to conceal the breach.
(f) The extent of any premeditation or planning.
(g) The level of harm and/or distress to the victim.
(h) The public nature of the offence (such as commission of the offence in a public place, children present or via broadcast media/social media platform, a closed or open forum.
(i) Use of discriminatory language or conduct, or any other behaviour that breaches the ECB’s Anti-Discrimination Code, whilst also carrying out a separate offence under the regulations. (Uplift for this offence MUST be included in the written reasons).
(j) Any other aggravating factor that the IDA or Appeal Panel consider is relevant.
Mitigating factors
(a) Good previous disciplinary record over the previous three years.
(b) The age of the participant at the time of the offence.
(c) Admission at the earliest opportunity, where the factual conduct forming the basis of the charge would be capable of being disputed.
(d) Demonstration of genuine remorse.
(e) Co-operation with the DM and during the relevant hearing.
(f) Inexperience of the participant by reference to their age or background at the time of the offence. This includes any medical conditions relevant to the charge.
(g) In respect of social media posts, the age of the post and the participant’s age at the time of the post and whether in a public or private domain/group.
(h) Any action to put the breach right and any education programme undertaken so that there is no repeat of the breach.
(i) Any other mitigating factor that the IDA or Appeal Panel consider is relevant.
Appendices
Document 1 – Umpires Indemnity
At the AGM each Club gave the confirmations set out below.
It is the responsibility of each Club and in particular of the relevant team captain to ensure that they are complied with. It is not the responsibility of the umpires.
Clubs should seek to encourage their umpires to be trained and to become members of the ACO, which will also provide the umpire with the benefit of insurance.
Clubs should review their membership terms and parental consent forms to ensure that they are consistent with these obligations.
Each Club has confirmed that:
Prior to the toss the team captain must complete the relevant ECB Team Card and deliver it to the umpires. The match should not start until this has been done. At the conclusion of the game the ECB Team Cards should be given to the home team and attached to the scorebook for future inspection or checking, if required.
Document 2 – Spirit of Cricket
Cricket is a game that owes much of its unique appeal to the fact that it should be played not only within its Laws, but also within the Spirit of the Game. Any action which is seen to abuse this spirit causes injury to the game itself. The major responsibility for ensuring the spirit of fair play rests with the captains.
1. There are two Laws which place the responsibility for the team’s conduct firmly on the captain.
Responsibility of captains
The captains are responsible at all times for ensuring that play is conducted within the Spirit of the Game as well as within the Laws.
Player’s conduct
In the event that any player failing to comply with instructions by an umpire, or criticising by word or action the decisions of an umpire, or showing dissent, or generally behaving in a manner which might bring the game into disrepute, the umpire concerned shall in the first place report the matter to the other umpire and to the player’s captain and instruct the latter to take action.
2. Fair and unfair play
According to the Laws the umpires are the sole judges of fair and unfair play. The umpires may intervene at any time and it is the responsibility of the captain to take action where required.
3. The umpires are authorised to intervene in cases of:
• Time wasting * Damaging the pitch Dangerous or unfair bowling
• Tampering with the ball * Any other action that they consider to be unfair
4. The Spirit of the Game involves RESPECT for:
• Your opponents * Your own captain and team
• The role of the umpires * The game’s traditional values
5. It is against the Spirit of the Game:
• To dispute an umpire’s decision by word, action, or gesture
• To direct abusive language towards an opponent or umpire
• To indulge in cheating or any sharp practice, for instance:
(a) to appeal knowing that the batsman is not out, (b) to advance towards an umpire in an aggressive manner when appealing, (c) to seek to distract an opponent either verbally or by harassment with persistent clapping or unnecessary noise under the guise of enthusiasm and motivation of one’s own side.
6. Violence
There is no place for any act of violence on the field of play.
7. Players
Captains and umpires together set the tone for the conduct of a cricket match. Every player is expected to make an important contribution to this.
Document 3 – Discipline Points Penalties (Tier 1A)
In addition to any players being suspended under the KCL General Conduct Regulations; the following Disciplinary Points Penalties will be enforced by the IDA or Appeal Panel as part of any relevant sanction.
These penalties will only apply in the following divisions of the KCL.
Tier 1A – Premier, Championship and Division 1.
Level 1 Offences
1st offence: Club and player will receive a first and final warning, which will remain in place for the remainder of that season.
2nd offence: Club will receive a 2-point penalty, actioned immediately.
3rd offence: Club will receive a further 4-point penalty, actioned immediately.
4th offence: Club will receive a further 8-point penalty, actioned immediately.
Level 2 Offences
1st offence: Club will receive a 2-point penalty, actioned immediately.
2nd offence: Club will receive a further 4-point penalty, actioned immediately.
3rd offence: Club will receive a further 8-point penalty, actioned immediately.
4th offence: Club will receive a further 16-point penalty, actioned immediately.
Level 3 / Level 4 Offences
1st offence: Club will receive an 18-point penalty, actioned immediately.
2nd offence: Club will be automatically relegated at the end of the season.
3rd offence: Club will be expelled from the league.
It should also be noted that further penalties and sanctions can be addressed by the Management Committee under the Constitution of the League.
For ease of reference, please refer to Section 8 – Management Committee and Section 18 – Conduct and Breaches of the Constitution
8.3 The Management Committee shall be empowered to interpret and enforce the Constitution and the Playing Conditions of the League, and to take such action as it sees fit in its unfettered discretion to uphold the reputation and standards of the League.
18.1 The Management Committee shall have the power to take appropriate action against individuals or member clubs in the event of misconduct or breaches of either the Constitution or the Playing Conditions of the League.
18.2 These powers shall include, but shall not be limited to, the imposition of fines, the suspension of players, the deduction of points, the awarding of matches to the opposition, the relegation of a Club to a lower Division, and the expulsion of a Club from the League.