Adopted at E.G.M. 20th February 2007
Rule 1
This Association shall be called the “Leinster Football Association” and shall be affiliated to the Football Association of Ireland
The objects for which this Association is established are to promote, foster and develop the game of Association Football in the province of Leinster, to take all such steps as may be deemed necessary and advisable for the prevention of infringement of the Rules of the Association and the Laws of the Game as amended from time to time or other improper practices in the game and for protecting them from abuses and to do all such things as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above mentioned objects or any of them as the Council may determine
Rule 2 – Interpretations.
In the interpretation of these Rules the following words and expressions shall have the following meaning, unless excluded by the subject or context:
(a) “This Association” (of the Association) wherever appearing in these rules shall mean The Leinster Football Association.
(b) “The Council” or “This Council” wherever it appears in these rules shall mean the Council of the Leinster Football Association.
(c) “Junior Committee” means the Junior Committee of the Leinster Football Association.
(d) “Youth Committee” means the LFA Youth Committee.
(e) “Days” shall exclude Saturdays, Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.
Rule 3 – Membership
Members of the Association shall be Leagues and Clubs who have paid their annual affiliation fee and have been approved for membership by Council.
All Leagues and Clubs playing association football in the province of Leinster shall be eligible for membership. Each League, their elected officials, representatives, players and members shall be bound by the rules and decisions of the Association, such decisions shall be binding, subject to all existing rights of appeal. The rules for the time being of the Football Association of Ireland, so far as they affect the rules of this Association, shall be read and held as part of the binding rules.
Rule 4 – Club Transfers
A Club wishing to transfer to a League outside the geographical area of jurisdiction of its present League must seek a transfer on the official Leinster Football Association transfer form (available from the LFA Offices). The Club must state in writing, compelling reasons why they are requesting to do so, and submit together with the transfer form. The current League has to sign the form first, if they are consenting to the release
No Club shall have a reasonable request for release refused, but will be encouraged by all parties to remain in their geographical area of jurisdiction, with their parent or current League and they will have the right of appeal to the Association and / or the Football Association of Ireland in accordance with the rules of these bodies
Each League must satisfy itself that any new application to join its League is from a genuine new Club and is not from a group of persons associated with another Club in an affiliated League during the previous seasons who might be submitting an application under a new name of convenience. The form must be submitted to the Association for ratification. Such transfer requests must be made on or before 1st May in any season.
Rule 5 – Affiliation Fees
Each League, Club/ Team(s) shall pay an Annual affiliation Fee as decided each season at the Annual General Meeting of the Football Association of Ireland. All affiliation fees must be paid to the Honorary Treasurer of the Association by 15th December in each season. Payment of the prescribed affiliation fee shall confirm that the affiliate accepts and agrees to be bound by the Rules of the Association. Any member, whose affiliation fee is not paid by 15th December in each year, is liable to be suspended.
Rule 6 – Levies
The Association shall have the power to impose levies for specific purposes, in addition to affiliation fees.
Rule 7 – Hon. Officers of the Association
The Hon. Officers of the Association shall be President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer, and Assistant Hon. Treasurer
To be eligible for nomination as an Honorary Officer, a person must have served at least three full years as a member of the Council of the Leinster Football Association.
Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting. Hon. Patrons/Life Members not exceeding in five number may be elected at the Annual General Meeting.
Nominations for the positions of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer must be forwarded on official forms, supplied by the Association, to the General Secretary / Administrator, not later than the 30th April in each election year.
Rule 8 – Association’s powers to deal with Breaches, etc.
The Association shall have jurisdiction in all matters connected with the game of soccer in the Province of Leinster. They shall have power to deal, as they think fit, with Leagues, Clubs, their Officials, Members or Players.
Rule 9 – Management
A Council elected in accordance with rule shall conduct the business of the Association. The quorum shall be one third, plus one, of which one must be a Hon. Officer of the Association. It shall decide the dates and times of meetings. Each member shall receive at least two days notice of meetings, which may be called by telephone, facsimile or e-mail, if necessary. The General Secretary / Administrator may call such other meetings as may be necessary.
Rule 10 – Constitution of Council
Representation on Council shall be as follows. One direct representative from the Eircom League of Ireland, such nomination to be submitted through the Football Association of Ireland.
The following leagues will have representatives as per affiliated teams from the previous season. Leinster Senior League, Leinster Football League, Athletic Union League, Amateur Football League, United Churches League, Dublin & District Schoolboy League, North Dublin Schoolboy/Girls League, Kildare & District Foottball League, Wicklow & Disttrict Football League, Carlow & District Football League, Kilkenny & District League, Wexfortd Football League, Combined Counties League, Meath & District League, UCD Super League and Chairman of the LFA Junior Committee
36 to 70 Teams 1 Representative
71 to 140 2 Representatives
141 to 200 3 Representatives
201 to 300 4 Representatives
Over 300 5 Representatives
Should a vacancy occur in Council membership, the League affected shall be empowered to elect a successor.
Professional Players and Professional Referees are ineligible.
Rule 11 – Vacancy in Council
Should a vacancy occur in the office of President, Vice-president, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, the Council shall have the power to appoint a person from aforesaid members to fill the vacancy. No alteration can be made in this Rule except at the Annual General Meeting.
Rule 12 – Election of President, etc. –
At the first meeting of the Council after the Annual General Meeting, which shall be held not later than the 12th June in each year, they shall elect from their number a President and Vice-President to act for the season. The President, or in his absence, the Vice-President, shall preside at all meetings of the Council at which he is present, and shall conduct the business in accordance with the ordinary Rules of procedure, of which he shall be the judge. In the absence of the President and Vice-President the Council shall appoint a member to act as President. The President shall have a casting vote only.
To be nominated for the office of President or Vice-President a member must have been at least three years a member of Council. An eligible member nominated for office who is not present at the time of his nomination shall have given notice in writing that he is willing to accept the nomination. The outgoing President shall be ex-officio a member of the Executive Committee for the two years immediately following his term of office. During his term of office as President the organisation which he represents on Council shall be entitled to nominate a substitute to act in the Presidents place on Council.
Rule 13 – Election of Committees
The Council shall have the power to appoint such Committees or Commissions as they may consider necessary and may by resolution of the Council delegate all or any of their powers to such Committees or Commissions.
Each Committee shall at its first meeting elect one of their members to act as its Chairman for the season.
Rule 14 – Appointment of paid Officers, etc.
The Council may appoint and remove such officials as may be necessary and fix their remuneration and confer on them such powers and impose such duties as they may think fit.
Rule 15 – Attendances at Meetings
Any member of the Council failing to attend three consecutive meetings of Council without giving a satisfactory explanation shall forthwith cease to be a member of Council.
Rule 16 – Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting, which shall consist of the President, Vice-President and Council of the Association and one representative from each League/Club in membership, shall be held no later than the 12th June each year. At least seven days notice shall be given of such meetings and notification shall be by means of advertisement in the national and provincial (Leinster) newspapers. The same individual shall not represent two Leagues or Clubs. Hon. Patrons/Life Members shall be entitled to be present and speak at all meetings, but shall not be entitled to vote except as representatives of Leagues or Clubs.
Rule 17 – Special General Meeting
Special General Meetings may be called by the Council as they may deem necessary.
A Special General Meeting shall also be called upon receipt by the General Secretary / Administrator of this Association of a requisition signed by the Secretaries of at least forty Clubs, accompanied by a deposit of €1,000, to defray expenses incurred, balance, if any, to be refunded. Notification to be sent by post to each club at least 14 days before the holding of the special general meeting. No other business shall be transacted except that stated on the requisition.
Rule 18 – Those eligible to attend Annual General Meetings or Special General Meetings
No Club or League shall have a right to a representative to the Annual General Meeting or Special General Meeting unless their FAI Affiliation Fee has been paid by 15th December previous.
Rule 19 – Leagues & Clubs dissatisfied
Leagues, Clubs, players and officials, dissatisfied with decisions of any affiliated body shall have the right to appeal to this Association.
An appeal should be sent by registered post to the General Secretary/Administrator of the Leinster Football Association and the registered Honorary Secretary of the body against which the appeal is being made within four (4) days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays after the date on which the notification of the original decision was given or sent to the appellant. It shall be accompanied by an appeal fee of €200 in the form of a Bank Draft, Postal or Money Order which should be crossed and made payable to the Leinster Football Association. Should Cheques or Cash be submitted the appeal will be rendered invalid. The appeal fee shall be refunded only in the event of the appeal being upheld.
The appellant must state in writing the substance of the appeal and the pertinent evidence.
All appeal hearings must commence within fourteen days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays of receipt of appeal. At the hearing of an appeal the Post Office receipt for the registered letters with addressee details, must be produced.
The body against whom the appeal is made must produce to the General Secretary / Administrator of the Leinster Football Association within ten days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays of receiving a copy of the appeal, a certified copy of the minutes of the meeting which made the original decision.
Failure to comply with the correct procedure as outlined above will result in disciplinary action taken by the appeals committee against either party.
The appeals committee shall consist of any three members of the LFA Senior Council, selected by the General Secretary / Administrator, one of whom shall act as Chairman.
No Council member shall take part in any appeal affecting his Club or League.
All parties, including third parties, shall be notified of the existence of an appeal and the date and time of the hearing. They shall be invited to attend or make a submission, if they so wish. All parties must notify the General Secretary / Administrator of the LFA at least three (3) days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays before the hearing with the names of their representatives attending.
The appeals committee shall have the power to impose additional sanctions, e.g. deduct points or award a match; if they are satisfied the appeal was frivolous, or, lodged to seek to gain the use of a player in a fixture.
The General Secretary / Administrator of the Leinster Football Association shall notify all parties involved in an appeal of the outcome by registered post within four days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays of the hearing. Any of the parties can appeal the LFA decision to the Football Association of Ireland in accordance with their rules.
Rule – 20 Appeals by a Player:
In no circumstances can an appeal by a player against a decision of this association be reviewed except by appeal to the FAI and must be in accordance with the rules of that Association.
Rule 21 – Voting
At any meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is demanded on any question. A declaration of the Chairman that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by a particular majority or lost, or not carried by a particular majority and an entry to that effect made in the Minute Book of the proceedings of the Association, shall be sufficient evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded. A like declaration and entry of the result of a ballot shall have a like effect. A poll must be demanded by not less than one-fifth of the duly nominated representatives present, and it shall be taken in such a manner as maybe determined by the Chairman and the result of such poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the Association. A poll demanded on the election of a President or on the question of adjournment shall be taken forthwith. Representatives may only give votes personally, and voting by proxy shall not be permitted. If any votes are given or counted at a meeting which shall afterwards be discovered to be improperly given or counted, the same shall not affect the validity of any resolution or thing passed or done at the meeting, and not in that case, unless the Chairman shall then and there decide that the error is of sufficient magnitude to affect such resolution or thing.
Each representative, duly nominated, present and entitled to vote, shall have one vote, provided that the Chairman, being a representative appointed by a member for the purpose of the meeting, shall have a casting vote as well as the original one. The Chairman shall at a meeting if he has not been appointed by a member as representative for the purposes of the meeting, have a casting vote only, and not an original vote.
Rule 22 – Delegates
The Council shall have power to appoint representatives to other Associations, or delegates to any conference of Association.
Rule 23 – Funds
The Hon. Treasurer shall take charge of the Funds for and on behalf of the Association and keep regular accounts of it. He shall submit statements of receipts and disbursements to the Finance Committee, the Council and the Annual General Meeting. The funds of the Association shall be lodged in such financial institutions as may be approved by the Council. All payments must be made by cheque, which must be signed by any three of the four nominated persons, i.e. the President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and General Secretary/Administrator. The statement of accounts and balance sheet of the Association shall be audited and made available to each member at the Annual General Meeting. The Council may order intermediate audits at any time.
Rule 24 – Counting of Gates
All moneys received at matches shall be counted at the conclusion of the game by the Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary and a member of the Finance Committee, or, in absence of the Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary by three members of the Council, one of whom must be a member of the Finance Committee, and the Hon. Treasurer shall give a receipt to the General Secretary/Administrator for the sum received.
Rule 25 – Borrowing
The Executive may from time to time borrow, raise or secure the payment of money, for the purpose of the Council in such manner or on such terms as may be expedient, provided always that they shall not at any time borrow a sum in excess of €10,000 without sanction of Council at a full meeting.
Rule 26 – Duties of General Secretary / Administrator
The Association may appoint a full-time Administrator ( henceforth referred to as the Administrator ) for such period as may be agreed by Council. The Administrator shall assume the role of General Secretary of the Association and will be charged with all the duties and responsibilities hither to assigned to the General Secretary. The Administrator will be entitled to be a non-voting member of Council and any sub-committees or commissions established by Council and will be entitled to represent the Association ( in accordance with the role of General Secretary ) at external committees, commissions, conferences and present a report of the season’s work at the Annual General Meeting.
Rule 27 – Information to be furnished by Leagues and Clubs
Each League and Club (through its League), shall forward to the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association, with its own affiliation fee, all particulars, and the situations of its ground and dressing room, stating whether ground is public or private. Leagues and Clubs shall be required to keep minutes of their meetings, showing the names and dates of election of new members. Every affiliated League and Club member is obliged to have appropriate Public Liability Insurance which must cover the premises they use and the grounds on which they train and play their matches, dressing rooms, stands, administrative buildings, and organised functions and or by the League or Club.
Rule 28 – Dates reserved by the Association
Senior Clubs must not arrange fixtures for the date of the L.F.A Senior Cup Final Tie without permission of the Council. In case of a replay in the Final Tie the closing of the date shall only apply to the Clubs directly concerned. The Council shall have full power to deal with any offence under this Rule.
Rule 29 – Breach of the Rules, etc
An infringement of any of the Rules of this Association and/or the Laws of the Game shall render any Club or League and any member of same, and any player of a club liable to expulsion, suspension, fine or such other penalty as the Council may think just.
Rule 30 – Cautionable / sending off offences
(a) In the event of cautionable / sending off offences on the part of any player, such player shall be cautioned by the Referee, in any case of violent conduct, the Referee, shall rule the offending player out of play, and order him off the ground, transmitting his name to the General Secretary/Administrator of this Association.
This Association shall have power to deal, by way of fine, suspension or otherwise, as it may think right, with any player cautioned or sent off.
(b) In the case of an alleged assault on a referee or assistant referee, the person or persons concerned shall stand suspended from the moment the alleged offence was committed. They shall not play or take part in football activities until their case is heard (within five days). If proved guilty, the minimum period of suspension is twelve months (this is a F.I.F.A. directive). The start of the hearing of the alleged assault must commence not later than five days after the reported offence.
In the case of a claim of alleged mistaken identity concerning a player sent off in a match, the Club Secretary must write to the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association within 24 hours of the match taking place, who will have the claim investigated by the Executive Committee. If the claim is upheld, the record of the offence will be transferred to the person nominated by the Club as the correct person to be dealt with.
Every Club is responsible to the Council of this Association for the action of its players, officials and spectators, and is required to take all reasonable precautions to prevent verbal abuse, threatening or assaulting match officials and players or club officials before, during or after a match.
Rule 31 – Players’ or members Position During Suspension
A player or member of a Club or Council during his period of suspension shall not play or take part in any match or fixture under this Association, and shall not hold any office in his Club or act in any capacity under this Association.
Rule 32 – Suspended Person Ineligible for Council, etc
If a suspended person or a suspended member of a Club or Council is a member of the Council, Junior or Youth Committee the organisation which he represents may elect a person to act in his stead during the period of his suspension, but not beyond the time he would have acted under Rules.
Rule 33 – Suspended Person Cannot Attend Meeting
A suspended player or a suspended member of a Club during the period of his suspension shall not be a representative at any General Meeting of the Association, or any meeting of any body under the jurisdiction of this Association.
A player or official while under suspension is not entitled to take part in any activity under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Ireland.
Rule 34 – Club Suspended
A suspended Club during the period of suspension shall not have any representation at any General meeting of this Association.
Rule 35 – Date of Suspension
Suspensions shall commence on the date, and for the period specified, on the notice of suspension.
Rule 36 – Powers to deal with any player refusing to play in representative match, and a Club who may have encouraged such player
Any player selected to play in any Inter-Provincial or other match arranged by this Association, and without good and sufficient cause refusing to comply with the arrangements of the Council for the Playing of the match, or, failing to play in such match, may be adjudged by the Council to be guilty of misconduct, and any club who may have deemed to have encouraged or instigated such player to commit a breach of instructions or rules shall be deemed guilty of a similar offence an may be dealt with as the Council think fit.
Rule 37 – Club or player with any unaffiliated Club. Power to forbid
No Club or Player shall be permitted to play matches with any unaffiliated Club in Ireland without first obtaining the consent of the Council.
Rule 38 – Outside or Summer Competitions
No club or team affiliated to this Association shall enter or compete in any league or competition outside the province of Leinster without the prior permission of the Association and no affiliated club or team may organise or take part in a Summer Competition without the prior sanction of the Association. Application must be made by an affiliated member and submitted on the official application form available from the Association.
Rule 39 – Power to deal with League
The Council may suspend or otherwise deal with any Committee, League or Competition under the jurisdiction of this Association or the Junior or Youth Committee who shall be deemed guilty of infringing these rules or of misconduct in connection with the management of the affairs of such Committees, League or Competition.
Rule 40 – Production of Documents
Clubs and Leagues must produce their books and documents for inspection at any time the Council may desire, and Leagues must present to the Council at the end of the season their balance sheet for inspection if requested. Any infringement of this Rule shall render any such Club or League liable to suspension.
Rule 41 – Cup Rules
The Cup Committee are authorised to make such Rules and Regulations with reference to the Challenge Cup Competitions as they deem expedient at their opening meeting, but in no way shall they alter the rules until the final game has been played in a season’s competition.
Rule 42 – Members of Council entitled to free admission to matches
Members of the Council of this Association shall be entitled to free admission to all matches played under the jurisdiction of this Association on producing their card of membership.
Rule 43 – Legal Owners of Cups, Funds and Property
The President, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer for the time of holding office in this Association shall be for all intents and purposes the Trustees and legal owners of the cups, moneys and property of this Association. They shall deal with it according to the decisions of the Council, of which an entry in the Minute Book of the Association shall be conclusive evidence.
Rule 44 – Duties of a Club Secretary
Clubs changing their Secretaries, or Secretaries changing their addresses, are required to advise the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association of the alteration at once.
Rule 45 – Communication to the F.A.I.
Communications by Leagues, Clubs, players, intended for consideration by the F.A.I. must be transmitted through the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association unless otherwise expressly provided for by these Rules or the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association of Ireland.
Rule 46 – Indemnity
Every Trustee, Officer, member of Council, Junior Committee or Youth Committee General Secretary / Administrator , or other Official or servant of this Association shall be indemnified by this Association against all costs, damages, compensations, losses and expenses incurred by him in or about the discharge of his duties, except such as accrues from their own respectful wilful acts and defaults.
Rule 47 – Referee’s Card
The Secretary or other responsible official of the club shall prior to the commencement of any match fill in on the referees card the full first names and surnames of participating players including substitutes placing the respective name on the card opposite to the number of the jersey which the particular player is wearing.
Rule 48 – Notice of Alterations of Rules
In the event of any alteration in these Rules being deemed necessary, notice of the proposed alteration shall be sent in writing to the General Secretary / Administrator by requisition for a Special General Meeting, as provided for by Rule, or at latest by the 30th April in each year, and the General Secretary / Administrator shall at least one week prior to the Annual General Meeting inform each club of the proposed alteration and any alteration proposed by Council. A majority of two thirds of the members present and voting shall be necessary to carry any alteration in these rules.
Rule 49 – Council Power
The Council shall have the power to deal with any matter, not provided for in these Rules, by way of a Minute Rule. If the matter concerns a possible rule change, they shall submit their decision to the next meeting of the LFA Rules Sanction and Revision Committee for consideration. Nothing in these rules shall be contrary to the Rules of the Football Association of Ireland and said rules shall be read and held as part of these rules.
Rule 50 – Interruption of Postal Services
In the event of an interruption in the postal service, correspondence in connection with protests, appeals, investigations and nominations shall be with the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association at the registered office of the Association. in accordance with the provisions of the appropriate rule and a dated receipt obtained. Notification of Annual General meetings or Special General Meetings and Meetings of Council shall be placed in the National and Leinster Provincial papers.
LEINSTER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION COUNCIL’S STANDING ORDERS
Rule 1 – Meetings of the Council
Meetings of Council shall be held on the nights decided at opening meeting of Council unless otherwise arranged by agreement. Meetings shall commence not later than 8.00pm and shall conclude not later than 10.00pm.
Should any matters arise in the interval between the meetings of Council as fixed by Standing Orders, and which in the opinion of the Hon. Officers is one to be dealt with by a full Council rather than for the Executive Committee, the Hon. Officers shall have the power to instruct the General Secretary / Administrator to forthwith summon the Council in accordance with No.3 of Standing Orders.
A quorum shall consist of one third members plus one, which must include at least one Hon. Officer of the Association.
A record shall be kept by the General Secretary / Administrator of the attendances of members at each meeting.
Rule 2 – Notice of Motion
Notices of all intended motions shall be given in writing to the General Secretary / Administrator not less than four days before the Council meeting. The notices to be on the Agenda in the order received. All proposals of committees and Members of the Council involving any alteration of Cup Rules shall be referred to the Rules Sanction and Revision Committee for their consideration and report before Agenda of the Business being adopted by the Council.
Rule 3 – Notice of Meeting to be given
The General Secretary/ Administrator shall give at least two days notice to each member of every meeting of the Council.
Rule 4 – Order of proceeding
At all meetings of the Council the General Secretary / Administrator shall present the minutes of the last preceding Council meeting. He shall present all letters affecting the business of the Council and read such letters as may be necessary, or that any member of the Council desires to have read. The reports of Committee meetings shall be next considered. The chairman of each Committee, or in his absence a member of the Committee, shall propose the adoption of the report, and members may then speak on any matters mentioned in the report or move a resolution thereon.
Rule 5- Mode of Discussion
Each member on speaking shall address himself to the President, and not to any other member of the Council. During the time any member is speaking, all the other members shall remain seated, unless a member rises to a point of order. Whenever the President rises to speak, no one shall continue standing, nor shall any one rise until the chair has been resumed.
Rule 6 – Mode of proceeding on motion
All motions, whether original ones or amendments, shall, if the Chairman requests it, be reduced to writing, signed by the mover, and handed to the General Secretary / Administrator immediately on being moved, and every member proposing such motion or amendment shall read the same before speaking on it.
Rule 7 – Order of Speaking
The mover of every original resolution but not of any amendment (unless it becomes an original motion), shall have the right to reply, not introducing therein any new matter, but confining himself strictly to the answering of previous objections, immediately after which the question shall be put by the Chair.
No other member shall be allowed to speak more than once on the same question, unless permission be given to explain, or the attention of the Chairman be called to a point of Order.
Rule 8 – Amendments only one at a time
When an amendment is moved upon a proposition no further amendment shall be taken into consideration until the first be disposed of, but any number of amendments may be brought forward in succession, and the question must be put in such a manner that if one amendment be negatived another may be moved upon the original proposition, but if an amendment be affirmed it shall form the proposition under consideration, whereupon further amendments may be moved, and if after the disposal of an amendment, no second or further amendment be moved, the question must ultimately be put upon the original or amended proposition, as the case may be, in order to it being passed, as a resolution.
Rule 9 – Discussion upon amended propositions
When discussion arises upon an amended proposition, the mover of the amendment which has replaced the original proposition may speak in reply, and so in like manner with respect to any further and displacing amendment.
Rule 10 – Mode of Voting Committee of the Whole Council
All questions shall be determined by a show of hands, unless a ballot is requested.
Rule 11 – Council as Committee
The Council may by vote resolve itself into a Committee of the whole Council and whilst in Committee there shall be no restriction as to the number of times a member may speak to the question.
Rule 12 – Who may take up business under notice
The business under any notice upon the Agenda shall not (except by consent of the Council) be proceeded with in the absence of the member of the Council in whose name it stands, unless he has given written authority for it to be taken up by some other member.
Rule 13 – Objectionable business
If the Chairman at any Council Meeting shall be of the opinion that any motion proposed to be made thereat is of an objectionable character, it shall be competent for him, either before or after the same is brought forward, to put it to the vote on which no discussion shall be allowed whether the same shall be entertained or not, and if three-fourths of the members present decide not to entertain such motion, the same shall be considered disposed of for that day.
Rule 14 – Urgent business
Matters which are not on the Agenda Paper shall not be considered by the Council unless, without discussion, a majority of three-fourths of the members present by vote consent.
Rule 15 – Rescinding resolution
A decision shall not be rescinded unless the motion to rescind shall be carried by three-fourths of the members present and voting.
Rule 16 – Suspension of Standing Orders
Standing Orders shall not be suspended unless the motion to suspend obtains two-thirds of the majority present and voting.
In no circumstances whatever shall it be possible to suspend Standing Order no. 1.
Rule 17 – Standing Committee
The following shall be the standing committees and are elected annually at the first meeting of the Council. They shall continue in office until their successors are appointed. Each standing committee shall appoint its own Chairperson at its first meeting.
Executive and Finance Committee:
The Executive and Finance Committee shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Hon. Secretary, Hon. Treasurer, Assistant Hon Treasurer the out-going President, (for two years), if still representing a constituent body, and seven members. Substitutes are allowed attend, provided notification is given to the General Secretary / Administrator before the meeting. The nominated substitute should be a Hon. Officer of the League, which he represents, and has decision-making powers. The quorum shall be one-third, plus one, which must include at least one Hon. Officer of the Association. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each Council meeting.
Protest and Appeals Committee:
All members of the Senior Council shall be eligible to be members of the LFA Protest and Appeals Committee. Upon receipt of a Protest or Appeal, the General Secretary / Administrator shall select three members to process the protest or appeal. No League can have a representative present should the clubs/teams have direct or indirect association with the Leagues or the business before the meeting.
Rules Sanction and Revision Committee
The Rules Sanction and Revision Committee shall consist of one representative from each full time League. No League may have more than one representative on this committee. Substitutes are allowed, provided notification is given to the General Secretary / Administrator before the meeting. The nominated substitute should be a member of the Executive committee of the league, which he represents, and has decision making powers. The quorum shall be one-third, plus one. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each council meeting.
Referees Committee
The Referees Committee shall consist of one representative from each full time League, plus one representative from the Irish Soccer Referees’ Society, nominated by the ISRS Executive Committee and a representative, nominated by the FAI Senior Referees Inspector. No League may have more than one representative on the committee. Substitutes are allowed, provided notification is given to the General Secretary / Administrator before the meeting. The nominated substitute shall be a member of Executive Committee of the League, of which he represents and has decision-making powers. The quorum shall be one-third, plus one. A detailed report shall be submitted to each Council meeting.
Representative Teams
The Officers shall select a Manager for representative teams. Each club shall be bound to place its players and ground at the disposal of the Association. Players selected to train, play or attend, as reserves in representative matches shall be bound to place themselves at the disposal of the Association for training and playing. Any player failing to do so, without a satisfactory reason, shall be adjudged as guilty of misconduct. The Executive Committee shall have the power to suspend players from taking part in any of the Association Cup Competitions or in their own League competitions during such period as they may decide. Players selected for representative matches shall not play in any football match for two days prior to the representative match. Players failing to observe this restriction shall be suspended for a period of one month and their Club may be fined as the Executive deem fit. Clubs with players on representative panels may request a postponement of matches fixed for them by their League or Association. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each Council meeting.
Other Committees:
If formed shall have such powers as the council may confer on them. They shall consist of no more than seven persons, four of whom must be members of Council and from different leagues. The other three need not necessarily be members of Council. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each Council meeting.
Attendance at Meetings:
Each League having representatives on the standing committee must ensure they attend all meetings properly convened and notified in accordance with rule. At least three days notice should be given by telephone, facsimile or e-mail of such Committee meeting.
It is mandatory for each league to attend (substitutes can attend).
RULES OF THE JUNIOR COMMITTEE LEINSTER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Rule 1 – Title
This Committee shall be called the Junior Committee of the Leinster Football Association.
Rule 2 – Control
The Junior Committee shall be under the control of and subject to the Leinster Football Association.
Rule 3 – Interpretation
In the interpretation of these Rules the following words and expressions shall have the following meaning, unless excluded by the subject or context:
(a) “The Council” means the Council of the Leinster Football Association.
(b) “Junior Committee” means the Junior Committee of the Leinster Football Association.
(c) Days shall exclude Saturdays, Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.
Rule 4 – Hon. Officers
The Hon. Officers shall be the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer.
Rule 5 – Powers to deal with Breaches
The Junior Committee shall have jurisdiction in all Junior matters connected with the game in the Province of Leinster. The Committee shall have the power to deal as it thinks fit with any Junior Club in membership of the Association, its Officials, members and players thereof guilty of misconduct or a breach of these rules, or in any way acting prejudicial to the interests of the Association.
Rule 6 – Casual Vacancies
The Committee may fill any casual vacancy that may occur in the position of the Hon. Officers. In the case of death or resignation of a member of the committee, the constituent body concerned shall have the right to nominate a replacement to act in his/ her place.
Rule 7- Junior Committee
The Committee shall consist of
The Honorary Officers and two nominated representatives from each affiliated League.
Rule 8 – Appointment of Hon. Secretary and Hon. Treasurer
Each applicant for the position of Hon. Secretary or Hon. Treasurer must be duly nominated on an official form to be returned to the General Secretary / Administrator by Registered Post bearing postmark not later than the 30th April. All applications for the position of Hon. Secretary or Hon. Treasurer shall be considered by the Committee at a Special Meeting called for the purpose of making the appointment which meeting must be held before the opening Meeting of the season. In the event of no nominations being received for any or both of these offices the Council will, on the recommendation of the Committee, fill the vacancy or vacancies from suitable eligible persons. All applicants in order to be qualified must have served on Management Committee of an approved League affiliated to the L.F.A. for the whole of the previous season.
The quorum shall be one-third plus one, of which one must be an Hon. Officer.
Rule 9 – Election of Chairman etc.
At the first meeting of the Committee after the Annual General Meeting, in each year, they shall elect from their member a Chairman and Vice-Chairman, to act for the season. The Chairman, or in his absence the Vice-Chairman, shall preside at all meetings of the Committee at which he is present, and shall conduct the business in accordance with the ordinary rules of procedure of which he shall be judge. In the absence of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman, the Committee shall appoint a member to act as Chairman. In the case of equality of votes, the Chairman shall at a meeting, if he has not been appointed by a member as a representative for the purposes of the meeting, have a casting vote only, and not an original vote. During his term of office as Chairman the organisation which he represents on Committee shall be entitled to nominate a substitute to act in the Chairman’s place on Committee.
Rule 10 – Sub-Committees
The Committee shall have power to appoint by resolution such sub-committees as they may consider necessary, and may delegate all or any of their power to such a sub-committee.
Rule 11 – Representatives
The Committee shall nominate from their number five representatives to the Junior Council of the Football Association of Ireland in accordance with the Rules of that body. The Junior committee shall appoint its Chairman, if not a member of Senior Council, to represent it on the LFA Senior Council.
Rule 12 – Attendance at meeting
Any member missing three successive meetings without giving a satisfactory explanation shall cease to be a member of the Committee.
Rule 13 – Hon. Treasurer’s Duties, etc
All moneys received at Junior matches shall be counted at the conclusion of the game by the Hon. Treasurer, Hon. Secretary and a member of the Executive Committee, or in the absence of the Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary by three members of the Committee. The Hon. Treasurer shall give a receipt for the sum received and shall hand the receipts of same, as early as possible, to the Hon. Treasurer of the LFA, together with full particulars of the total receipts and expenditure. The returns for each match must be kept separately.
Rule 14 – Disqualification
Any member of the Committee receiving payment in any match, either directly or indirectly from the Association or its members, beyond out-of-pocket expenses for services as Referee, Assistant Referee or otherwise, shall forthwith cease to be a member of the Committee. Professional Players or Professional Referees are ineligible for membership of the Committee.
Rule 15 – Committee Meetings
The Committee shall meet at such time and place as may be by them from time to time determined. In the intervening periods between Full Meetings of Committee, the Executive shall enjoy all the powers of the Full Committee except in cases where new principles are involved.
Rule 16 – Voting
At any meeting, a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands, unless a poll is demanded on any question. A declaration of the Chairman that a resolution has been carried, or carried unanimously, or by any particular majority or lost, or not carried by a particular majority, and an entry to that effect made in the Minute Book of the proceedings of the Association, shall be sufficient evidence of the fact, without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded. A like declaration and entry of the result of a ballot shall have a like effect. A poll must be demanded by not less than one-fifth of the duly nominated representative present, and it shall be taken in such manner as may be determined by the Chairman and the result of such poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the Association. A poll demanded on the election of a President or on the question of an adjournment shall be taken forthwith. Representatives may only give votes personally, and voting by proxy shall not be permitted. If any votes are given or counted at a meeting which shall afterwards be discovered to be improperly given or counted, the same shall not affect the validity of any resolution or thing passed or done at the meeting, unless the objection to such votes be taken at the same meeting, and not in that case, unless the chairman shall then and there decide that the error is of sufficient magnitude to affect such resolution or thing.
Each representative, duly nominated, present and entitled to vote, provided that the Chairman, being a representative appointed by a member for the purpose of the Meeting shall have a casting vote as well as the original. The Chairman shall at a meeting, if he has not been appointed by a member as representative for the purposes of the meeting, have a casting vote only, and not an original vote.
Rule 17 – Delegates to the Association A.G.M.
At the final meeting of the Junior committee seven of its members shall be nominated to attend the Annual General Meeting of the Association with voting rights. Other members of the outgoing Junior Committee may attend the A.G.M. but shall not be entitled to vote unless representing a club or League.
Rule 18 – Powers of the Committee
The entire management of the Junior committee shall be conducted by its members but all matters relating to expenditure must be submitted for approval to the Council of the L.F.A.
Rule 19 – Cautionable / sending off offences
(a) In the event of cautionable / sending off offences on the part of any player, such player shall be cautioned by the Referee, in any case of violent conduct, the Referee, shall rule the offending player out of play, and order him off the ground, transmitting his name to the General Secretary/Administrator of this Association.
This Association shall have power to deal, by way of fine, suspension or otherwise, as it may think right, with any player cautioned or sent off.
(b) In the case of alleged assault on a referee or assistant referee, the person or persons concerned shall stand suspended from the moment the alleged offence was committed. They shall not play or take part in football activities until their case is heard (within five days). If proved guilty, the minimum period of suspension is twelve months (this is a F.I.F.A. directive). The start of the hearing of the alleged assault must commence not later than five days after the reported offence.
In the case of a claim of alleged mistaken identity concerning a player sent off in a match, the Club Secretary must write to the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association within 24 hours of the match taking place, who will have the claim investigated by the Executive Committee. If the claim is upheld, the record of the offence will be transferred to the person nominated by the Club as the correct person to be dealt with.
Every Club is responsible to the Council of this Association for the action of its players, officials and spectators, and is required to take all reasonable precautions to prevent verbal abuse, threatening or assaulting match officials and players or club officials before, during or after a match.
Rule 20 – Powers of Committee, suspension, etc.
This Junior committee shall have the power to deal, by way of fine, suspension or otherwise, as it may think right, with any player proved guilty of ungentlemanly behaviour.
Rule 21 – Revision of Rules
In the event of any alteration in these Rules being deemed necessary, notice of the proposed alteration shall be sent in writing to the General Secretary/Administrator of the Association by the 30th April each year, and the General Secretary/Administrator shall at least one week prior to the Annual General Meeting inform each club of the proposed alteration proposed by the Committee. A majority of two thirds of the members present and voting shall be necessary to carry any alteration to these Rules.
Rule 22 – Sub-Committee’s Reports
Reports of each meeting of the Committee and Sub-Committees shall be available for submission to the Junior Committee.
Rule 23 – Honorary Secretary’s Duties
The Hon. Secretary, or any other responsible officer detailed for the purpose, shall keep a true record of the proceedings of the Committee and in such mode as may be prescribed, and shall present report of the season’s work to the Annual General Meeting.
Rule 24 – Club’s Minutes
All Junior Clubs shall be required to keep Minutes of their Meetings, showing the names, addresses and dates of election of new members and of when they ceased to be members.
Rule 25 – Protests, Appeals and Investigations
Leagues, Clubs, players and officials, dissatisfied with decisions of any affiliated body shall have the right to appeal to this Association.
An appeal should be sent by registered post to the General Secretary/Administrator of the Leinster Football Association and the registered Honorary Secretary of the body against whom the appeal is being made within four (4) days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays after the date on which the notification of the original decision was given or sent to the appellant. It shall be accompanied by an appeal fee of €200 in the form of a Bank Draft, Postal or Money Order which should be crossed and made payable to the Leinster Football Association. Should Cheques or Cash be submitted it will render the appeal invalid. The appeal fee shall be refunded only in the event of the appeal being upheld.
The appellant must state in writing the substance of the appeal and the pertinent evidence.
All appeal hearings must commence within fourteen days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays of receipt of appeal. At the hearing of an appeal the Post Office receipt for the registered letters with addressee details, must be produced.
The body against whom the appeal is made must produce to the General Secretary / Administrator of the Leinster Football Association within ten days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays of receiving a copy of the appeal, a certified copy of the minutes of the meeting which made the original decision.
Failure to comply with the correct procedure as outlined above will result in disciplinary action taken by the appeals committee against either party.
The appeals committee shall consist of any three members of the LFA Senior Council, selected by the General Secretary / Administrator, one of whom shall act as Chairman.
No Council member shall take part in any appeal affecting his Club or League.
All parties, including third parties, shall be notified of the existence of an appeal and the date and time of the hearing. They shall be invited to attend or make a submission, if they so wish. All parties must notify the General Secretary / Administrator of the LFA at least three (3) days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays before the hearing with the names of their representatives attending.
The appeals committee shall have the power to impose additional sanctions, e.g. deduct points or award a match; if they are satisfied the appeal was frivolous, or, lodged to seek to gain the use of a player in a fixture.
The General Secretary / Administrator of the Leinster Football Association shall notify all parties involved in an appeal of the outcome by registered post within four days excluding Saturday, Sunday, Bank or Public Holidays of the hearing. Any of the parties can appeal the LFA decision to the Football Association of Ireland in accordance with their rules.
Rule 26 – Players can only play for one Club
No player, either amateur or professional, shall play in Competitive matches for two clubs during the same season without getting a transfer from his original club and paying the appropriate transfer fee as laid down in the rule book of the League the player is leaving and satisfying all valid claims of that club.
Original shall mean the first club whom the player first signed for during any one season and the form officially dated by the League. If the claims of any particular club are considered to be unreasonable, the player concerned or the club seeking the transfer shall have the right to appeal to the Committee. The Committee shall conduct an investigation and if the claims are found to be in excess of a valid claim, the committee shall have the power to grant a transfer and suspend, fine or otherwise deal with the offending Club.
Rule 27 – Indemnity
Every Officer, member of Council, Junior Committee, Youth Committee, General Secretary/Administrator, or other Official or servant of this Association shall be indemnified by this Association against costs, damages, compensations, losses and expenses incurred by him in or about the discharge of his duties, except such as accrues from his respectful wilful acts and defaults.
Rule 28 – Referee’s Card
The Secretary or other responsible official of the club shall prior to the commencement of any match fill in on the referees card the full first names and surnames of participating players including substitutes placing the respective names on the card opposite to the number of the jersey which the particular player is wearing.
Rule 29 – Communications to the F.A.I.
Communications by Leagues, Clubs, and players, intended for consideration by the F.A.I. must be transmitted through the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association unless otherwise expressly provided for by these Rules or the Rules and Regulations of the Football Association of Ireland.
Rule 30 – Matters not provided for in the Rules
The Committee shall have power to decide on any matter not provided for in these Rules by way of a minute rule. If the matter concerns a possible rule change, it shall submit its decision to the next meeting of the L.F.A. Rules Sanction and Revision Committee for consideration.
Nothing in these rules shall be contrary to the Rules of the Football Association of Ireland and said rules shall be read and held as part of these rules.
Junior Committee Standing Sub-Committees:
The following shall be the standing sub-committees and are elected annually at the first meeting of the Junior Committee. They shall continue in office until their successors are appointed. Each standing sub-committee shall appoint its own Chairperson at its first meeting.
Executive Committee:
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Senior Hon. Treasurer, Junior Hon. Treasurer and eleven members. No League may have more than one representative in the eleven places. Substitutes are allowed attend, provided notification is given to the General Secretary / Administrator before the meeting. The nominated substitute should be a member of the Executive Committee of the League, which he represents and has decision making powers. The quorum shall be one-third, plus one, which must include at least one Hon. Officer of the Association. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each Committee meeting.
Selection Committee:
This Committee of seven members shall be elected when required and shall select players for representative matches. No League shall have more than one representative on the Committee. Each Club shall be bound to place its players and ground at the disposal of the Association. Players selected to train, play or attend, as reserves in representative matches shall be bound to place themselves at the disposal of the Association for training and playing. Any player failing to do so without satisfactory reason, shall be adjudged as guilty of misconduct. The Executive Committee shall have the power to suspend players from taking part in any of the Association cup Competitions or in their own League competitions during such period as they may decide. Players selected for representative matches shall not play in any football match two days prior to the day of the representative match. Players failing to observe this restriction shall be suspended for a period of one month and their Club may be fined as the Executive deem fit. Clubs with players on representative panels may request a postponement of matches fixed for them by their League or Association. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each committee meeting.
Protest Committee:
All members of the Junior Committee shall be eligible to be members of the LFA Protest Committee. Upon receipt of protest, the General Secretary/Administrator shall select three members from different Leagues to process the protest.
Other Committees:
If formed, shall have such powers as the committee may confer on them. They shall consist no more than seven persons, four of whom must be members of the Junior Committee, and not from the same league, the other three need not necessarily be members of the Junior Committee and they would not have voting rights.
A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each Committee meeting.
Attendance at Meetings
Each League having representatives on the standing sub-committees must ensure they attend all meetings properly convened and notified in accordance with rule. At least three days notice should be given by telephone, facsimile or e-mail of such Committee meetings.
RULES OF THE YOUTH COMMITTEE LEINSTER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
Rule 1 – Title
This Committee shall be called the Youth Committee of the Leinster Football Association.
Rule 2 – Control
The Youth Committee shall be under the control of the Council of the Leinster Football Association.
Rule 3 – Interpretations
“Youth Committee” means the LFA Youth Committee.
Any reference to’ days’ shall exclude Saturdays, Sundays, Bank or Public Holidays.
Rule 4 – Hon. Officers
The Youth Committee Chairman, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer and the General Secretary / Administrator. The Committee shall appoint its own Chairman at its first meeting.
Rule 5 – Power to deal with breaches
The Youth committee shall have jurisdiction in all youth matches connected with the game in the province of Leinster. The Committee shall have the power to deal as they think fit with any youth team or Club in membership of the Association, their officials, members and layers thereof guilty of misconduct or a breach of these rules, or in any way acting prejudicial to the interests of the Association.
Rule 6 – Casual Vacancies
The Committee may fill any casual vacancy that may occur in the position of the Chairman. In the case of death or resignation of a member of the Committee, the constituent body concerned shall have the right to nominate a replacement to act in his/her place.
Rule 7 – Executive Committee
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Chairman, Hon. Secretary, Senior Hon. Treasurer, General Secretary / Administrator and one member from each affiliated league in the province of Leinster. Substitutes are allowed attend, provided notification is given to the General Secretary/Administrator before the meeting. The nominated substitute should be a member of the Executive committee in the League, which he represents and has decision making powers. The quorum shall be one-third, plus one, which must include at least one Hon. Officer of the Association. A detailed report of the proceedings shall be submitted to each Committee meeting. The entire management of youth affairs shall be conducted by its members, but all matters relating to financial expenditure must be submitted to and sanctioned by the Council of the Association. The Executive Committee shall set out in advance at their meeting, the date, time and place of meetings. Each league and member shall receive the agenda for meetings at least seven days before meetings.
Rule 8 – Attendance at Meetings
Any League not attending three successive meetings without giving satisfactory explanation shall cease to be a member of the committee.
Rule 9 – Cautionable / Sending off Offences
(a) In the event of cautionable / sending off offences on the part of any player, such player shall be cautioned by the Referee, in any case of violent conduct, the Referee, shall rule the offending player out of play, and order him off the ground, transmitting his name to the General Secretary/Administrator of this Association.
This Association shall have power to deal, by way of fine, suspension or otherwise, as it may think right, with any player cautioned or sent off.
(b) In the case of alleged assault on a referee or assistant referee, the person or persons concerned shall stand suspended from the moment the alleged offence was committed. They shall not play or take part in football activities until their case is heard (within five days). If proved guilty, the minimum period of suspension is twelve months (this is a F.I.F.A. directive). The start of the hearing of the alleged assault must commence not later than five days after the reported offence.
In the case of a claim of alleged mistaken identity concerning a player sent off in a match, the Club Secretary must write to the General Secretary / Administrator of the Association within 24 hours of the match taking place, who will have the claim investigated by the Executive Committee. If the claim is upheld, the record of the offence will be transferred to the person nominated by the Club as the correct person to be dealt with.
Every Club is responsible to the Youth committee of this Association for the action of its players, officials and spectators, and is required to take all reasonable precaution to prevent verbal abuse, threatening, or assaulting match officials and players or Club officials before, during or after a match.
Rule 10 – Youth player can only play for one club
No Youth player, either amateur or professional, shall play in competitive matches for two Clubs during the same season without first getting a transfer from his original club, and paying the appropriate transfer fee as laid down in the Rule Book of the League the player is leaving and satisfying all valid claims of that Club. Original shall mean the first Club whom the player first signed for during the current season and the League officially dated the form. If the claims of any particular Club are considered to be unreasonable, the player concerned or the Club seeking the transfer shall have the right of appeal to the Committee. The Committee shall conduct an investigation and if the claims are found to be in excess of a valid claim, the Committee shall have the power to grant a transfer and suspend, fine or otherwise deal with the offending Club.