Please be aware that there are different methods for reporting misconduct depending on the type of football being played, namely General Football and Small Sided Football.
General Football
Referees can report misconduct in the following ways:
Adobe Acrobat Format (print and manually fill in and post)
- Multi Caution Match Report Form
- Standard Misconduct Form
Microsoft Excel Format (electronically complete and email to discipline@countyfa.com unless otherwise specified by the County)
- Multi Caution Match Report Form
- Standard Misconduct Form
Please note that only the approved templates, attached at the bottom of this page, may be used by referees and not any personally designed electronic forms. Referees that do not have access to the internet or are unable to download the forms should contact us on 01603 704050, for paper copies to be sent by post.
Misconduct reporting
It is vital that when match officials report misconduct, you submit the forms to the correct association for processing. Not doing so causes significant delays to the disciplinary process and creates additional work for those involved by having to advise where reports should be sent to. Therefore, it is essential that when officiating in a match, you are aware of where to send both participating teams' disciplinary reports. If you are in any doubt then please refer to the details that follow, or by contacting the FA Referees or Disciplinary Departments, or Norfolk FA, who will be able to advise you.
All misconduct reports should be sent to the local County Association that the team affiliates to (in other words the County that the team plays in), other than teams participating in the following leagues and competitions:
- FA Premier League - First Team, Reserves and Academy/Youth teams
- The Football League - First Team, Reserves and Academy/Youth teams
- Conference National - First Team, Reserves and Academy/Youth teams
- Conference North and South - First team only
- Southern League Premier, Div One Midlands and Div One South & West - First team only
- Northern Premier League Premier, Div One North and Div One South - First team only
- Isthmian League Premier, Div One North and Div One South - First team only
In addition, The FA Disciplinary Department also deal with disciplinary committed by teams in the leagues listed above who also participate in the following knockout cup competitions:
- The FA Cup
- The Football League Cup
- The FA Trophy
- The FA Youth Cup - FA Premier League, Football League and Conference National clubs only
- Isthmian League Cup
- Southern Football League Cup
- Northern Premier League Challenge Cup
- The Football League Trophy
- Northern Premier League Chairman’s Cup
- County Senior Cup’s
- Northern Premier League Presidents Cup
- Northern Premier League Presidents Cup
Multi-Caution Match Report Form
Referees are only required to complete one form per fixture and distribute just a copy to the appropriate association(s) giving details of the fixture, details of the player(s) cautioned and the code for the offence that has been committed, (ie C1 to C7). No other information is required.
Please remember when using this form that the following guidance needs to be taken into consideration:
1. This form is to be used for cautions only.
2. Players receiving two cautions in a game must be reported on the standard misconduct reporting form.
3. Players sent off or other reports of misconduct need to be reported individually on the standard misconduct report form.
4. A copy of the form needs to be sent to each County that is affected. Therefore, it is the responsibility of the referee to photocopy the form and send to each appropriate association. However, you are required to still include the details of all of the cautions on one form.
5. To assist associations in the administration of the misconduct, please include team details on the form. (i.e. 1st, reserves, U18, U17 etc).
The Microsoft Excel version of the form will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by email (see details on form). The referee must have Microsoft Excel installed in order for this form to work. Please remember that it is important to keep a copy of any Multi-Caution Match report forms submitted in the event of there being any queries.
Standard Misconduct Report Form Template
This form should be used to report:
1. Players receiving two cautions in a game and therefore dismissed from the field of play.
2. Players sent off or other reports of misconduct, need to be reported individually on the standard misconduct report form.
An electronic version of the Standard Misconduct report form has been created in Microsoft Excel and in pdf and is available by clicking the documents below. This will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by email (see details on form). The referee must have Microsoft Excel installed in order for this form to work. Again, this will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by email. Please remember that it is important to keep a copy of any Standard Misconduct report forms submitted in the event of there being any queries or if a Personal Hearing is requested.
Small Sided Football
The FA have introduced a specific form for reporting sending off and misconduct offences in small sided football.
The new form can be completed in either of the following ways:
Adobe Acrobat Format (print and manually fill in and post)
- Small Sided Football Disciplinary Report Form
Microsoft Word Format (electronically complete and email to discipline@countyfa.com (e.g. discipline@NorfolkFA.com) unless otherwise specified by the County)
- Small Sided Football Disciplinary Report Form
Please note that only the approved templates attached below by referees and not any personally designed electronic forms. Referees that do not have access to the internet or are unable to download the forms should contact their local County Association who will send them paper copies by post.
Small Sided Football Disciplinary Report Form
This form should be used to report:
1. Players receiving two blue cards in a game and therefore dismissed from the field of play.
2. Players sent off or other reports of misconduct, need to be reported individually on the Small Sided Football Disciplinary report form.
An electronic version of the Small Sided Football Disciplinary report form has been created in Microsoft Word and in pdf and is available by clicking the document below. This will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by email (see details on form). The referee must have Microsoft Word installed in order for this form to work. Again, this will enable the referee to complete the form electronically and submit to the appropriate association by email.
When submitting a Small Sided Football Disciplinary report form, there should be three copies:
1. To be submitted to the competition organsiser
2. To be kept by the Referee in the event of there being any queries or if a Personal Hearing is requested
3. To be submitted to the appropriate local County Association - only required for Red Card Type 2 and misconduct offences
If you have any questions regarding any of the above please contact either Matt Carpenter (Football Administration Manager) at Matt.Carpenter@NorfolkFA.com or Barry Knight (Referee Development Officer) at Barry.Knight@NorfolkFA.com.
