RULE 15

15. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

15.(A)(1) ALL QUESTIONS OF ELIGIBILITY, QUALIFICATIONS OR INTERPRETATIONS OF THE RULES SHALL BE REFEREED TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

15.(A)(2) OBJECTIONS RELEVANT TO THE DIMENSIONS OF THE PITCH, GOALS, FLAG POSTS OR OTHER FACILITIES OF THE VENUE WILL NOT BE ENTERTAINED BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNLESS A PROTEST IS LODGED WITH THE REFEREE BEFORE THE COMMENCEMENT OF THE MATCH. ANY CLUB LODGING SUCH PROTEST AND NOT PROCEEDING WITH IT SHALL BE DEEMED GUILTY OF A BREACH OF THIS RULE AND SHALL BE DEALT WITH BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE.

15.(B) EXCEPT IN CASES WHERE THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE DECIDE THAT THERE ARE SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES, PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS ( WHICH MUST CONTAIN FULL PARTICULARS OF THE GROUNDS UPON WHICH THEY ARE FOUNDED ) MUST BE LODGED IN DUPLICATE WITH THE LEAGUE SECRETARY WITHIN TWO DAYS ( SUNDAYS EXCLUDED ) OF THE MATCH OR OCCURRENCE TO WHICH THEY REFER. A PROTEST OR COMPLAINT SHALL NOT BE WITHDRAWN EXCEPT BY PERMISSION OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE. A MEMBER OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WHO IS A MEMBER OF ANY CLUB INVOLVED SHALL NOT BE PRESENT ( EXCEPT AS A WITNESS OR REPRESENTATIVE OF HIS CLUB ) WHEN SUCH PROTEST OR COMPLAINT IS BEING DETERMINED.

15.(C) ANY DISPUTE BETWEEN CLUBS IN COMPETITION SHALL BE REFERRED FOR DETERMINATION BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE WHOSE DECISION SHALL BE BINDING UPON ALL PARTIES SUBJECT TO RULE 16.

15.(D) NO PROTEST OF WHATEVER KIND SHALL BE CONSIDERED BY THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE UNLESS THE COMPLAINING CLUB SHALL HAVE DEPOSITED WITH THE SECRETARY A SUM OF £25-00. THIS MAY BE FORFEITED IN WHOLE OR PART IN THE EVENT OF THE COMPLAINING CLUB LOSING ITS CASE. THE COMPETITION SHALL HAVE POWER TO ORDER THE DEFAULTING CLUB OR CLUB MAKING A LOSING OR FRIVOLOUS PROTEST TO PAY THE EXPENSES OF THE ENQUIRY OR TO ORDER THAT THE COSTS BE SHARED BY THE PARTIES.

15.(E) ALL PARTIES TO A PROTEST OR COMPLAINT MUST BE AFFORDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE A STATEMENT WHEN THE PROTEST OR COMPLAINT IS BEING HEARD AND MUST HAVE RECEIVED 7 DAYS NOTICE OF THE HEARING, TOGETHER WITH A COPY OF THE SUBMISSION. WHEN DEALING WITH A PROTEST OR COMPLAINT THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE SHALL TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THE POSSESSION BY THE PROTESTING CLUB OF ANY INFORMATION WHICH, IF PROPERLY USED, MIGHT HAVE AVOIDED THE PROTEST OR COMPLAINT.