USSF Rule 3042 - Referee Abuse & Assaults

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION

PLAYING & ADMINISTRATIVE RULES

RULE 3042. MISCONDUCT TOWARDS GAME OFFICIALS

Section 1. General

Misconduct against referees may occur before, during and after the match, including travel to and from the match. Misconduct may occur also at later times when directly related to duties of a game official as a referee.

Section 2. Terms and References

As used in this rule --

1) "Referee" includes the following:

a) all currently registered USSF referees, linesmen, 4th officials or others duly appointed to assist in officiating in a match.

b) any non-licensed, non-registered person serving in an emergency capacity as a referee (under Rule 3040).

c) any club linesman.

2) "Hearing" means a meeting of at least three neutral members, one of which is designated or elected to serve as chairman. The hearing shall be conducted pursuant to guidelines established by the National State Association (RI Soccer Association).

3) a) Referee Assault is an intentional act of physical violence at or upon a referee.

b) Assault includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee: hitting, kicking, punching, choking, spitting at, or on, grabbing or bodily running into a referee; the act of kicking or throwing any object at a referee that could inflict injury; damaging the referee's uniform or personal property, i.e. car, equipment, etc.

4) a) Referee abuse is a verbal statement or physical act which implies or threatens physical harm to a referee or the referee's property or equipment.

b) Abuse includes, but is not limited to the following acts committed upon a referee: using foul or abusive language toward a referee; spewing any beverage on a referee's personal property; or verbally threatening a referee.

4) c) Verbal threats are remarks that carry the implied or direct threat of physical harm. Such remarks as "I'll get you after the game" or "You won't get out of here in one piece," shall be deemed referee abuse.

Section 3. Jurisdiction and Hearings

A) General

1) When any amateur or professional player, coach, manager, club official or game official assaults or abuses a referee, the original jurisdiction to adjudicate the matter shall vest immediately in the responsible National State Association (RISA) which is affiliated with the United States Soccer Federation.

2) When an allegation of assault is verified by the National State Association (RISA), the person is automatically suspended until the hearing on the assault.

3) The National State Association (RISA) must hold a hearing within thirty (30) days of the abuse or assault or, if applicable, the thirty day period provided by subsection (b) (3) of this section. If the Association does not adjudicate the matter within the period of time, original jurisdiction shall immediately vest in the National Appeals Committee to adjudicate the matter, to which the same provisions as to the term of suspension shall apply.

4) Failure to hold the initial hearing shall not rescind the automatic suspension.

5) In cases of report of referee abuse, a hearing is held only when requested by the alleged assailant or otherwise deemed appropriate by the convening authority.

B) Events and Tournaments

1) In the event an assault on or abuse of a referee occurs in an event outside the alleged offender's home state, the referee shall (a) immediately notify the Event/Tournament Chairman, and (b) forward a copy of the game report and his/her comments on the incident to the Event/Tournament Chairman.

2) The Event/Tournament Chairman shall have the right to immediately convene a hearing at the site of the Event/Tournament, at which the alleged offender, the coach of the alleged offender when the offender is a player, and the game official should be present. Information presented at this hearing shall promptly be relayed to the alleged offender's National State Association President by the Event/Tournament Chairman, both orally and in writing; however, failure to provide written information shall not restrict the offender's home National State Association from taking action with regard to any referee abuse or assault.

3) Final jurisdiction shall vest with the alleged offender's home National State Association. A hearing shall be held by that National State Association within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the initial report of the abuse or assault on a referee.

Section 4. Penalties

A) Assault

The player, coach, manager, or official committing the referee assault is automatically suspended for at least one (1) year from the time of the assault, unless serious injuries are inflicted, then the minimum suspension period will be at least five (5) years. The National State Association (RISA) adjudicating the matter may not provide shorter periods of suspension, but if circumstances warrant, may provide a longer period of suspension.

B) Abuse

The minimum suspension period for referee abuse shall be at least three (3) scheduled matches within the rules of that competition. The National State Association (RISA) adjudicating the matter may provide a longer period of suspension when circumstances warrant (e.g. habitual offenders).

Section 5. Appeals

A) Assault

A player, coach, manager, or official who is found to have committed the assault may appeal to the Appeals Committee by following the procedures of Rule 2104 within thirty (30) days from the receipt of the decision of the association (RISA).

B) Abuse

A player, coach, manager, or official who is found to have committed the abuse may appeal the decision by following the appellate procedures of the respective National State Association (RISA).

Section 6. Procedure for Reporting Assault and Abuse

A) Procedures for reporting of referee assault and/or abuse shall be developed and disseminated by the National Referee Committee to all Federation registered referees for use in their National State Associations. RISA referees should complete a USSF Game Report and send copies to the RISA President, SRA and Director of Amateurs.

B) Referees shall transmit a written report of the alleged assault or abuse, or both, within 48 hours of the incident (unless there is a valid reason for later reporting) to the president of the National State Association or their designees and the State Referee Administrator. (In RISA, copies of assaults/abuse should be sent to the RISA President, SRA and Director of Amateurs. ) For Tournaments or special events, the referee shall transmit a written report to the tournament director on the day of the incident and to his home state SRA within 10 days of the incident.

Section 7. Rule Application

A) This rule shall supersede all rules of affiliated Divisions, Associations, and Professional Leagues that pertain to assaults or abuse upon referees, linesmen, the manner and means of hearings, appeals, and rehearings in matters pertaining hereto.

B) Nothing in this rule shall be construed to restrict or limit any league, event/tournament, National State Association, or Professional League from applying equal or greater restrictions to anyone not listed in section 3(a)(1) or this rule (i.e. a spectator associated with a club or team).

RULE 3043. MISCONDUCT OF GAME OFFICIALS

Section 1. Terms and References

Except as noted in section 2 of this rule, the terms and references are the same as those defined and outlined in Rule 3042.

Section 2. Procedures and Punishments

When any referee is alleged to have committed misconduct toward another referee, participant, or spectator at a match, the State Referee Committee, or the State Referee Administrator if there is no Committee in the State, will hear such allegations and reports its findings and any punishment of the referee to the National State Associations of the State and National Referee Committee within thirty (30) days of the hearing.