These Regulations set out the provisions relating to appeals conducted in accordance with the Rules, save for appeals arising from matters proceeding under Part E: Fast Track Regulations (which shall be conducted in accordance with Part E: Fast Track 7: Appeals – Fast Track therein).

Grounds of Appeal

1        The grounds of appeal available to The Association shall be that the body whose decision is appealed against:

1.1     misinterpreted or failed to comply with the Rules and/or regulations of The Association relevant to its decision; and/or

1.2     came to a decision to which no reasonable such body could have come; and/or

1.3      imposed a penalty, award, order or sanction that was so unduly lenient as to be unreasonable.

2        The grounds of appeal available to Participants shall be that the body whose decision is appealed against:

2.1      failed to give that Participant a fair hearing; and/or

2.2        misinterpreted or failed to comply with the Rules and/or regulations of The Association relevant to its decision; and/or

2.3     came to a decision to which no reasonable such body could have come; and/or

2.4    imposed a penalty, award, order or sanction that was excessive.

3      Where an appeal is brought by FIFA, UKAD or WADA against a decision of a Regulatory Commission pursuant to the Association’s Anti-Doping Regulations, any of the grounds set out at paragraphs 1 and 2 above may be relied upon.

Appeal Process

Commencement of Appeal and Response

4    Appeal timings shall run from the date of notification of the decision being appealed against (“Notification Date”). The Notification Date shall be:

4.1    the date of provision of the written decision; or

4.2     where the relevant rules or regulations provide that written reasons may be produced or requested, the date of provision of the written reasons.

5       In the case of an appeal from a decision of a Regulatory Commission or Disciplinary Commission;

5.1     notification of the intention to appeal shall be made in writing to The Association (or to the relevant Participant, where The Association is the appellant) within seven days of the Notification Date. 

5.2      a notice of appeal (the “Notice of Appeal”) with The Association by email to Disciplinary@TheFA.com (or, where The Association is the appellant, with the relevant Participant) within 14 days of the Notification Date.

6        In case of all other appeals, the timings set out in paragraph 5 above shall apply, unless the relevant rules provide otherwise.

7         The Notice of Appeal must:

7.1     identify the specific decision(s) being appealed;

7.2       set out the ground(s) of appeal and the reasons why it would be substantially unfair not to alter the original decision;

7.3   set out a statement of the facts upon which the appeal is based;

7.4      save for where the appellant is The Association, in which case no appeal fee will be payable, be accompanied by the relevant appeal fee as set out in paragraph 21 of Part A: General Provisions. Where an appeal is lodged electronically, the appeal fee must be received not later than the third day following the day of despatch of the electronic notification (including both the day of despatch and receipt);

7.5      where appropriate, apply for leave to present new evidence under paragraph 10 below.

8          The respondent shall serve a written reply to the Notice of Appeal (the “Response”) on an appellant and the Appeal Board within 21 days of the lodging of the Notice of Appeal. Where appropriate, the Response must include an application for leave to present new evidence under paragraph 10 below.

9        Where the Regulatory Commission or other body appealed against has not stated the reasons for its decision, either:

9.1     the appellant shall request written reasons from that body which shall be provided to the Appeal Board; or

9.2    the Appeal Board shall require that a member of that body attends the appeal hearing. In which case: (i) questions may be put by the Appeal Board at a hearing to satisfy itself as to the reasons for the decision); (ii) cross-examination by the appellant or respondent shall not be permitted; (iii) representations may be made by the parties to the Appeal Board who may then put questions to the member of the body that made the decision.

10      The Appeal Board shall hear new evidence only where it has given leave that it may be presented. An application for leave to present new evidence must be made in the Notice of Appeal or the Response. Such application must set out the nature and the relevance of the new evidence, and why it was not presented at the original hearing. Save in exceptional circumstances, the Appeal Board shall not grant leave to present new evidence unless satisfied with the reason given as to why it was not, or could not have been, presented at the original hearing and that such evidence is relevant. The Appeal Board’s decision shall be final. Where leave to present new evidence has been granted, in all cases the other party will be given an opportunity to respond.

11    The appellant shall prepare a set of documents which shall be provided to the Appeal Board and respondent at least seven days before the hearing and which shall comprise the following (or their equivalent):

11.1   the Charge;

11.2    the Reply;

11.3      any documents or other evidence referred to at the original hearing relevant to the appeal;

11.4    any transcript of the original hearing;

11.5  the notification of decision appealed against and, where they have been given, the reasons for the decision;

11.6     any new evidence;

11.7  the Notice of Appeal;

11.8     the Response.

12      An appeal shall be by way of a review on documents only. The parties shall however be entitled to make oral submissions to the Appeal Board. Oral evidence will not be permitted, except where the Appeal Board gives leave to present new evidence under paragraph 10 above.

13      Once an appeal has been commenced, it shall not be withdrawn except by leave of the Appeal Board. Where an appeal is so withdrawn, the Appeal Board may make such order for costs, or such order in respect of any bond lodged pursuant to paragraphs 27 to 37 below, as it considers appropriate.

14    The chairman of an Appeal Board may upon the application of a party or otherwise, give any instructions considered necessary for the proper conduct of the proceedings, including but not limited to:

14.1    extending or reducing any time limit;

14.2    amending or dispensing with any procedural steps set out in these Regulations;

14.3    instructing that a transcript be made of the proceedings;

14.4      ordering parties to attend a preliminary hearing;

14.5    ordering a party to provide written submissions.

The decision of the chairman of the Appeal Board shall be final.

15    The Appeal Board may adjourn a hearing for such period and upon such terms (including an order as to costs) as it considers appropriate.

16      The Appeal Board shall proceed in the absence of any party, unless it is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for the failure of the party to attend, and shall do so in such manner as it considers appropriate.

17        The following procedures shall be followed at an appeal hearing unless the Appeal Board thinks it appropriate to amend them:

17.1     the appellant to address the appeal board, summarising its case;

17.2    any new evidence to be presented by the appellant;

17.3     the respondent to address the appeal board, summarising its case;

17.4     any new evidence to be presented by the respondent;

17.5    each party to be able to put questions to any witness giving new evidence;

17.6    the Appeal Board may put questions to the parties and any witness giving new evidence at any stage;

17.7    the respondent to make closing submissions;

17.8     the appellant to make closing submissions.

18     The Appeal Board may, in the event of a party failing to comply with an order, requirement or instruction of the Appeal Board, take any action it considers appropriate, including an award of costs against the offending party.

General

19      A decision, order, requirement or instruction of the Appeal Board shall (save where to be made under the Rules by the Chairman of the Appeal Board alone) be determined by a majority. Each member of the Appeal Board shall have one vote, save that the Chairman shall have a second and casting vote in the event of deadlock.

20        The Appeal Board shall notify the parties of its decision to the parties as soon as practicable in such a manner as it considers appropriate; and unless it directs otherwise, its decision shall come into effect immediately.

21        The Appeal Board shall have power to:

21.1    allow or dismiss the appeal;

21.2     exercise any power which the body against whose decision the appeal was made could have exercised, whether the effect is to increase or decrease any penalty, award, order or sanction originally imposed;

21.3   remit the matter for re-hearing;

21.4      order that any appeal fee be forfeited or returned as it considers appropriate;

21.5    make such further or other order as it considers appropriate, generally or for the purpose of giving effect to its decision.

21.6      order that any costs, or part thereof, incurred by the Appeal Board be paid by either party or be shared by both parties in a manner determined by the Appeal Board.

22        Decisions of the Appeal Board shall be final and binding and there shall be no right of further challenge, except in relation to appeals:

22.1    to CAS brought by FIFA or WADA pursuant to the Anti-Doping Regulations; or

22.2     concerning the amount of costs any party is ordered to pay by the Appeal Board (which is considered in paragraph 24 below).

23      Any costs incurred in bringing, or responding to, an appeal shall normally be borne by the party incurring the costs. In exceptional circumstances the Appeal Board may order one party to pay some or all of the other party’s costs. Such costs will not include any legal costs. Any applications for such costs must be made at the Appeal Board and must include details of the exceptional circumstances.

24        An appeal against only the quantum of costs ordered to be paid shall be heard and determined by a single person appointed by Sport Resolutions (UK) (or a similar independent body as determined by The Association from time to time). That person shall decide all matters of procedure for how such an appeal will be conducted.

25      As soon as practicable after the hearing, the Appeal Board shall publish a written statement of its decision, which shall state:

25.1    the names of the parties, the decision(s) appealed against and the grounds of appeal;

25.2   whether or not the appeal is allowed; and

25.3   the order(s) of the Appeal Board.

26    The Appeal Board shall, upon the request of the appellant or the respondent (such request to be received at The Association within three days of the date of the notification of the decision), give written reasons for the decision.

27        The provisions relating to bond applications at paragraphs 28 to 37 shall only apply where an appellant is appealing a decision of a League (save for decisions of the Premier League or the EFL).

28    Within seven days of lodging the Notice of Appeal, the League (as respondent) may make an application for the Appeal Board to require a bond to be lodged by the appellant before the appeal may progress.

29    Whilst such a bond application is being processed, no Response to the Notice of Appeal will be due from the Respondent in accordance with paragraph 8 above.

30        Any bond application must be copied to the appellant, and must:

30.1      state the grounds for the application; and

30.2  state the amount applied for.

31      The appellant may provide a response to the bond application within seven days of its submission.

32       Whether or not the appellant has provided any response to it, the Appeal Board shall consider the bond application as soon as practicable after the seventh day following its submission. The Appeal Board may, in its discretion, consider the bond application on papers alone, or require the parties to attend a personal hearing. Any such personal hearing shall be conducted according to such timings and procedure as the Appeal Board may determine at its discretion.

33     The test to be applied by the Appeal Board is whether it is satisfied that there is a real risk that the appellant will not pursue the appeal to a final determination by the Appeal Board. Where it is so satisfied, the Appeal Board may order the appellant to lodge a bond with The Association on such date and in such amount as it considers appropriate. The Appeal Board’s decision in this respect shall be final and binding with no further right of appeal. For the avoidance of doubt, consideration of a bond may only be given by an Appeal Board following submission of an application by a respondent in accordance with paragraph 28.

34        Where an Appeal Board orders a bond to be lodged with The Association, the Appeal may not proceed until the bond is duly lodged. In any such appeal, notwithstanding the terms of paragraph 8 above, the respondent shall serve its response to the Notice of Appeal within 14 days from the date that the bond is lodged with The Association.

35        Where an Appeal Board decides not to order a bond to be lodged with The Association, notwithstanding the terms of paragraph 8 above, the respondent shall serve its response to the Notice of Appeal within 14 days from the date of the Appeal Board’s decision.

36        Any bond lodged with The Association pursuant to paragraph 33 above will be held by The Association until the final determination of the appeal by an Appeal Board. Following such final determination, the bond shall in all cases be returned to the appellant in full.

37      Notwithstanding the terms of paragraph 23 below, in any case where a bond has been lodged with The Association, and the appeal is not pursued by the appellant to a final determination by the Appeal Board, the Appeal Board shall have a discretion to order the forfeiture of any part or all of the bond, such amount to be paid in full to the respondent to cover any costs it has so far incurred in responding to the appeal.