Suspension Guidelines

1.1 The suspension guidelines set out the standard offences, and recommended minimum and maximum penalties for a charge.  

1.2 The suspension guidelines are a recommendation only, and all decisions are at the discretion by the Incident Review Officer, Independent Appeals Officer, and Tribunal.  

1.3 Charges are to be broken up into three separate categories: 

(a) Player offences  

• In-game offences: Whilst an offense may not be permissable, these offences happen in the course of a match.
• Out-of-game offences: These offences happen outside the expected nature of a match. 

(b) Non-Player Offences: These offences occur by a non-registered player, which can be a spectator, coach, or team manager. 

1.4 For the purposes for guidance, each offence will have a recommended charge, with different severities: 

(a) Low severity 

(b) Medium severity 

(c) High severity 

(d) Match Official – this is for any incidents that occur which include a match official.  

1.5 Each charge is to have a definition, and a definition and example of each severity. Severities are for guidance purposes and are at the discretion by the Incident Review Officer, Independent Appeals Officer, and Tribunal.  

1.6 Charges that do not have a severity attached are up to the discretion of Incident Review Officer, Independent Appeals Officer, and Tribunal. These charges are often broad and are handled case-by-case.  

Player Offences 

Tripping (In game)  

Definition: Tripping consists of using a body part (most commonly a leg) to trip an opponent. Tripping can either be accidental during normal play, or on purpose and premeditated.  

This offence does not include futsal, where this would be officiated by the referee.

• Low Severity: Accidental isolated trip during the game. 
• Medium Severity: Pre-meditated trip for the intention to gain an advantage (for example, to stop a play) 
• High Severity: A pre-meditated trip during play for the intention to hurt a player. 

Attempting to trip (In Game)

Definition: The attempt to use a body part to trip an opponent. Whilst unsuccessful, it is a dangerous act.  

Futsal Red Card (In game) 

Definition: A futsal red card is distributed at the discretion of the referee and may come in two forms, two yellow cards, or a straight red card. The below will outline recommendations for a red card, however, further penalties may apply depending on the incident.  

• Low Severity: Two yellow cards  
• Medium Severity: Straight red card 

Accumulation of Cards (Futsal) (In game) 

Definition: Penalties apply for an accumulation of cards by a player over the course of the season. Each card distributed acts as a ‘demerit’. Please see points allocated below: 

Yellow card: 1 demerit point 
Two yellow cards: 2 demerit points. 
Straight red card: 3 demerit points. 

• Low Severity: Accumulation of cards that leads to five (5) demerit points. 
• Medium Severity: Accumulation of cards that leads to eight (8) demerit points. 
• High Severity: Accumulation of cards that leads to 10 demerit points.  

Elbowing (In game) 

Definition: push or strike (someone) with one's elbow. It is reasonable to expect that accidental elbowing may occur during the game. An accidental elbow consists of reaching for the ball and contacting an opponent (usually high). Elbows due to overzealous or aggressive behaviour may constitute an offence. 

• Low Severity: Accidentally elbowing a player while attempting to go for the ball (warning/ foul) Medium Severity: Elbowing an opponent high, while accidental, is overzealous in nature and could have been avoided. This also includes elbows that are caused through aggression.  
• High Severity: A pre-meditated elbow where the player has no intention of going for the ball, in a deliberate act of aggression. May also constitute the offence of assault. 
• Official: Elbowing an official. May also constitute the offence of assault.  

Tunnelling (In game) 

Definition: Tunnelling constitutes of edging a player under the ball/ taking their legs out from underneath them. Although tunnelling may be accidental in the attempt to gain a better position to get the ball, tunnelling can be a deliberate act and can be often dangerous. 

• Low Severity: Attempt to go for the ball, maintaining your own position and accidentally tunnelling an opposition player. While this usually may be no foul, in some circumstances it may constitute a foul or warning. 
• Medium Severity: Attempt to go for the ball, however, edging the opponent under the ball on purpose to gain an advantage. This category assumes there was no ill intent towards the opponent. 
• High Severity: No attempt to go for the ball and tunnelling an opponent, which may cause a serious injury. This may also include an act of aggression with no attempt for the ball. 

Accidental physical contact (In game) 

Definition: It is reasonable to expect physical contact during competition matches. Whilst not an offence, acts through over-zealous behaviour, or consistent acts of physical contact after warnings from match officials may result in further action being taken.  

• Low Severity: Accidental physical contact expected to be made during a match.  
• Medium Severity: Acts of physical contact that are over-zealous or made after warnings from a match official.  
• Official: An act of over-zealous behaviour that leads to physical contact (even accidental) with a match official.  

Assault/ Fighting (Out-of-game) 

Definition: Assault is a physical attack on somebody. During game play, it is reasonable to expect some physical contact, which can be dealt with by the match official. During a match, assault is any untoward contact with another person that is not reasonably expected in that sport.  

Assault does include threats; however, this will be treated as another incident for the purpose of suspensions. 

• Low Severity: Any unwarranted pushing/ shoving to an opponent.   
• Medium Severity: Engaging in or starting a fight, which can include pushing, shoving, punching, or making any untoward physical contact with an opponent  
• High Severity: Gross physical contact made with another person, with the intent to cause harm.  
• Official: Any physical attack on a match official. 

Striking (Out-of-game) 

Definition: Making deliberate physical contact with another person with an open hand, closed fist, object, or head.   

• Medium Severity: Offences can only be medium for striking to an opponent or spectator. In this case, a strike would consist of a player making deliberate physical contact with an opponent, with the intent to injure.  
• Official: Striking towards a match official or staff member.  

Attempting to strike (Out-of-game) 

Definition: Attempting to make deliberate physical contact with another person with an open hand, closed fist, object, or head.   

• Medium Severity: Offences can only be medium for attempting strike an opponent or spectator. In this case, a strike would consist of a deliberate action to inure an opponent.  
• Official: Attempting to strike a match official or staff member.  

Kicking (Out-of-game)

Definition: to strike, thrust, or hit with the foot deliberately. 

• Medium Severity: Kicking which is deliberately targeted towards an opposition member with the intent to injure.  
• Official: Kicking which is deliberately targeted towards a match official or staff member.  

Attempting to kick (Out-of-game)

Definition: an attempt to strike, thrust, or hit with the foot deliberately. 

Medium Severity: an attempted kick which is deliberately targeted towards an opposition member with the intent to injure.  
Official: an attempted kick which is deliberately targeted towards a match official or staff member.  

Verbal Abuse/ Swearing (Out-of-game) 

Definition: Verbal abuse is the use of language and communication to cause harm. 

• Low Severity: Swearing that is directed at self.  
• Medium Severity: Swearing or abuse that is directed towards an opponent, or spectator. Whilst not condoned, this level of swearing or abuse is short in nature and isn’t for the purpose of initiating a fight.  
• High Severity: Abuse that is directed at an opponent, or spectator, that grossly exceeds what is expected. The abuse or swearing may be long in nature and be for the purpose of starting an altercation.  
• Official: Swearing or abuse that is directed towards a match official or staff member.  

Deliberately endangering health and safety (Out-of-game)

Definition: The intent to cause harm to an opponent. Whilst this may cover a range of offences, for the purpose of the Suspension Guidelines, it will only cover offences not mentioned: 

• Spreading of bodily fluids, which includes spreading spit or blood on an opponent.  

Unsportsmanlike Behaviour 

Definition: Any behaviour that goes against the spirit of the game. Unsportsmanlike behaviour will most likely cover another offence; however, the following items may constitute an unsportsmanlike offence: 

• Sledging. 

• Throwing a tantrum at a decision. 

• Throwing/ kicking the ball away. 

• Purposefully time wasting. 

• Stopping the play without intent at going for the ball. 

It is of the expectation that a match official deals with unsportsmanlike behaviour, however, more serious, and constant behaviours may lead to further action.  

• Low Severity: Committing one of the prior unsportsmanlike behaviours.  
• Medium Severity: Committing another unsportsmanlike behaviour after first warning.  
• High Severity: Being sent off due to unsportsmanlike behaviour on two occasions that season. 

Cheating, Tanking, Bribery, or Tampering (Out-of-game)

Definition: Any result to change the results of a game improperly or giving an unfair advantage to a player or a team. Examples may include: 

• Teams agreeing on a result to benefit both teams. 

• Using unregistered players.  

• Attempt to bribe a match official or staff member. 

• Changing results on the scoresheet or online.  

• Attempt to forfeit on another team’s behalf.  

• Tampering with the scoreboard.  

For clarity, the below are used as guidance only, there may be many examples of the above items and their severity.  

• Low Severity: Two teams in futsal needing a draw for both to progress for finals and agreeing to draw. A player scores an own goal on purpose to ensure this result occurs.  
• Medium Severity: A team need a win to play finals, they use an unregistered player from a higher ranked team to ensure they win. 
• High Severity: An attempt to bribe a match official, tamper with scoresheets, or tamper with the scoreboard.  

Obstruction of review (Out-of-game)

Under no circumstance, shall a player not be truthful in a formal witness statement submitted to La Trobe Sport.  

If a statement is not truthful, and contradicting evidence is found through CCTV footage, or Keemotion footage, a penalty will apply.  

Playing whilst suspended (Out-of-game)

Any player should not play while they are suspended. Please consult La Trobe League management if you are unsure of your suspension time. Playing whilst suspended will result in a ban of a minimum of one season, to life based on severity. 

• Medium Severity: Playing whilst suspended in a regular season game. 
• High Severity: Playing whilst suspended in a finals match.  

Spitting (Out-of-game)

Definition: eject saliva forcibly from one's mouth, sometimes as a gesture of contempt or anger. For clarity, a player can be charged for spitting, regardless of saliva making contact with anyone.  

• Low Severity: Spitting on the side of the court during play.  
• Medium Severity: Spitting on the court during play/ in a break and is not directed at anybody  
• High Severity: Spitting on the court during play, directed at an opponent. 
• Official: Spitting that is directed towards a match official.   

Vilification (Out-of-game)

Definition: saying something extremely derogatory about someone in speech or writing. Types of vilification can include: 

• Racial vilification 

• Religious vilification 

• Sexual vilification 

Given the serious nature of this offence, and complexity, vilification offences will be treated case-by-case.  
 

Not following stadium policies and procedures (Out-of-game)

Context: La Trobe Sport has several policies which need to be followed whilst in the La Trobe Sports Stadium. It is up to the responsibility of the user to be informed of the stadium policies and procedures, which are available while entering each court hall. Some examples of stadium policies and procedures include: 

• Child safety policy  

• Photography policy (no filming in the stadium at any time)  

• No food/ open drink on the courts 

While disobeying these policies may not end up in a La Trobe League Suspension, La Trobe Sport may act in more severe circumstances. 
 

Using an obscene gesture (Out-of-game)

Definition: An obscene gesture is a movement or position of the body, especially of the hands or arms, that is considered exceedingly offensive or vulgar in some particular cultures. Such gestures are often sexually suggestive. 

• Medium Severity: A gesture used towards an opposition player or spectator.  
• Official: A gesture used towards a match official or staff member.  

Threatening a player, putting a fear of impending violence (Out-of-game)

Context: Incidents of this nature may also constitute other incident types, such as abuse or assault. Putting fear of impending violence into someone may constitute a threat, accompanied by gestures, leaving a person in genuine fear of a physical confrontation.  

• Low Severity: A general threat towards an opposition player or spectator. Whilst not condoned, it is reasonable to expect that this threat won’t lead to any violence, or a player won’t feel physically threatened. 
• Medium Severity: A threat where a player or spectator is reasonably expected to feel physically threatened or impending violence.  
• High Severity: A threat towards a player or spectator, where it is reasonably expected that there is impending violence where their life may be threatened. 
• Official: A threat directed towards a match official or staff member.  

Nonplayer Offences 

2.1 This section relates to anyone who is not a registered participant of La Trobe League, which may include –  

• Spectators 

• Parents 

• Family 

• Friends 

• Coaches 

• Team Managers 

2.2 For clarity, a non-registered player who participates in the competition will fall under Player Offences.  

2.3 The charges below relate to both the nonplayer, who will be banned from attending matches, as well as potentially having an impact on the team. As per the terms and conditions of the competition, a spectator or nonplayer is the responsibility of the team.  

2.4 La Trobe Sport reserve the right to take action on the team in the event of unruly behaviour by a nonplayer associated with a team.  
 

Nonplayer (Spectator) Abuse 

Context: Spectators fall under the responsibility of the team, as agreed to in the terms and conditions of La Trobe League.  

• Low Severity: A nonplayer riling up the opposition, making untoward comments to opposition players or supporters. 
• Medium Severity: Spectators swearing, abusing the opposition, or continually riling up the opposition even after a warning. 
• High Severity: Nonplayers making vilifying comments, threats, or comments that grossly exceed to what is expected towards the opposition or their spectators.  
• Official: Nonplayers abusing match officials or staff.  

Entering the field of play 

Under no circumstance, should a nonplayer (spectator) enter the field of play, unless authorised to do so. Only in extraordinary circumstances, such as a serious injury to a player, shall a nonplayer enter the field of play.  

• Low Severity: a nonplayer entering the field of play to celebrate with team, whilst the game is still occurring. 
• Medium Severity: a nonplayer entering the field of player, to stop a play deliberately, or entering the field of play to celebrate after given initial warning.  
• High Severity: a nonplayer entering the field of play, to be involved in an altercation or abuse a match official. Any altercation, or abuse, will also fall under the appropriate player and nonplayer offences.