RIGHTS of ACCUSED

Failing to Appear at Discipline Hearing when required:  

Will result in the individual accused of being suspended from all soccer activities and fined, and an organization accused being fined, as per HDSA Fees. The accused individual who failed to attend a hearing will remain suspended from all soccer activities until they submit a written request together with payment of the fine for failing to appear ($50)  and fee for requesting a hearing ($125) as per HDSA Fees.

Request for Postponement                       

Any party required to attend a hearing may request one (1) postponement as per the OS Discipline Policies. The request must be submitted in writing, with the postponement fee ($125) no later than four (4) days prior to the date of that hearing, stating the reason for requesting the postponement. If the request is denied, the fee shall be refunded.

Pleading Guilty

Accused party may plead guilty and forego a hearing. Written notification must be received no later than four (4) days prior to the date of the hearing. In doing so the accused party accepts maximum penalty applicable to the OS Misconduct Type charge. The accused may not appeal the decision made by panel once guilty plea has been entered, unless the penalty assessed is not within the standard range in accordance with the Published Rules

Advisers

An adviser is a person 18 years of age or older who provides advice to any party required to attend a Discipline Hearing including the Panel and may not act as a witness nor provide any testimony at the Discipline Hearing. They may not question the competence of the Match Official(s) and may question a witness for clarification purposes only.

The Chair of the Discipline Hearing Panel shall notify any advisers that the hearing will be conducted strictly in accordance with Ontario Soccer “Governing documents”.

An adviser may not be granted an adjournment of the hearing on the grounds that he/she is not familiar with Ontario Soccer “Published Rules”.

Observers

Each party required to attend a Discipline Hearing is entitled to have a maximum of two observers in attendance at the Discipline Hearing. They may not act as a witness nor provide any testimony but may speak at the discretion of the Discipline Hearing Panel.

If an observer interrupts a Discipline Hearing and refuses to stop such interruptions when requested to do so by the Discipline Hearing Panel, he/she shall be required to leave the hearing room, prior to the continuation of the hearing.

Club Representatives

Each Club / Local Referee Association or League is entitled to send a representative to a Discipline Hearing at which one of its Player(s), Team Official(s) or Administrators or Match Official(s) is required to attend and may serve as an adviser.

At a Discipline Hearing for a Match Official Assault case, the Club shall send a representative to the hearing.

A Club Representative may also serve as an adviser to a party, usually the accused, and is entitled to the full rights of an adviser, in accordance with Operational Procedure 5.7.1.

At a Discipline Hearing for a Match Official Assault case the Local Referee Association of the assaulted Match Official shall be requested to send a representative to the hearing.

Witnesses

Each party required to attend a Discipline Hearing as well as the Governing Organization hearing the case, is entitled to bring witnesses. Witnesses must appear in person. Written reports by witnesses are not acceptable.

There is no limit to the number of witnesses allowed, but they must add new testimony and the Discipline Hearing Panel can restrict the testimony of witnesses if the testimony given becomes repetitious.

Notification of Decision

In all cases, decisions shall be forwarded, in writing, by mail, fax, e-mail, or designated website, to the parties involved within fifteen (15) days after the conclusion of the hearing. The decision shall include the "Rights of Appeal Information". If the accused is found guilty the decision shall include:

a) The exact offence(s) of which the accused has been found guilty and reasons to support the decision.

b) The exact terms of the discipline imposed, including any suspension(s), fee(s), fine(s), or bond(s).

Game Official Assault

An individual accused of an alleged Game Official Assault will be suspended immediately from all soccer activity and will remain suspended pending a hearing by HDSA Discipline Panel acting as an OS Discipline Hearing Panel. The following individuals must attend the hearing in person:

• The accused;

• The person(s) submitting the report(s);

• The Club Representative.

Any suspension that is assessed following a Discipline Panel decision will include any period of suspension already served.

If the accused is found guilty of Game Official Assault, the Club of the accused shall be charged  Discipline Hearing Admin Fee $200 as per Section 12 Procedure 11- OS Fees and fines in addition to the set fine charged to the accused. 

As per OS Standard penalties.