BDAFA Board Directive – 5th May 2023

Board Directive

Following the incident on Friday the 28th of April 2023, The Board convened to review our regulations to increase referee safety, wellbeing and increase participation & spectator satisfaction.

The Board has made the changes detailed below which will be implemented commencing Friday 5th May 2023 at 5pm.

The measures are strong, and the Board will continue to review other changes and communicate them when finalised.

Protecting Referees on Game Day

Before the game, at half time and at full-time, some Registered Team Officials (“RTOs” that is, Coaches and Managers) consider it their right to question or worse, argue or abuse referees about their decisions during a game.

Although many Coaches and Managers are respectful, and the request is genuine, this interaction allows for potential abuse / arguing.  We have had reports from as recently as last weekend of such unacceptable interactions.

1. Approaching a Match Official  

• No RTO or Spectator is to approach a Centre Referee, Assistant Referee, Referees Coach or Referee Assessor to question any decisions made by the Referees, be it before, during or after the game.
• Should an RTO breach the above, they will be issued a red card, and will result in the game being abandoned. The game will be awarded to the non-offending team as a forfeit 3-0 victory or at the score of the game at the time if the non-offending team is up by more than a margin of 3 goals. Further to the loss via forfeit, the offending team will have a further 3 points deducted from their competition points for the season.
• Should an RTO have a question stemming from a game, they are to follow the correct procedure of putting their feedback or questions in writing to the BDAFA office via their Club Secretary.
• Players, including captains, are also not permitted to question a referee, this is to be administered as per the Laws of the game.

2. Dissent or Use of Offensive and/or Insulting and/or Abusive Language “OIAL” by RTO

Currently, Dissent by an RTO is handled by them being issued with a yellow card and the game continues.

From Friday 5th May 5pm, should an RTO be issued with two yellow cards for yellow card offences including dissent, they will be issued with a Red and the game will be abandoned.

From the same date, if an RTO uses Offensive and/or Insulting and/or Abusive Language against a referee, assistant referee, 4th official, or referee mentor or referee assessor, they will be issued with a Red Card and the game will be abandoned.

The game will be awarded to the non-offending team as a forfeit 3-0 victory or at the score of the game at the time if the non-offending team is up by more than a margin of 3 goals. Further to the loss via forfeit, the offending team will have a further 3 points deducted from their competition points for the season.

Offence Table  

Body Camera’s

BDAFA will be trialing body cameras on MPL games from the 5th of May 2023 onwards. The Body Cameras will be worn by the Referees.

Once the trial is running and we have evaluated its effectiveness, we will look to roll out Body Cameras in other competitions.

The cameras will remain the property of the Association and the data on them.

Guard of Honour

In an effort to display Bankstown Footballs unity and respect for Match Officials, The Board issue the following Directive for games being held on the 5th, 6th & 7th of May 2023.

All games that have a Match Official present on the 5th, 6th & 7th of May 2023, teams are asked to form a Guard of Honour at the commencement and conclusion of each game. Each club should line up at halfway on the sideline to allow the referees to enter the pitch between both teams lined up.

We want to actively demonstrate to the BDR, that our participants care and support them, and anti-social behaviour is not welcome in our game or Bankstown.

Kind Regards

The BDAFA Board.