STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO CITING BY CLUBS
These days it would seem that there is a growing tendency to cite acts of foul play. However, this is not something that should be undertaken lightly and there are strict rules that have to be applied. Below is set out what must be done. Failure to comply with any one of these may lead to a decision by the Constituent Body not to proceed.
The act of foul play must not have been seen by the referee. [Note – a referee may have seen the incident and chosen not to act on it. This will make a citing invalid.]
The citing must be in writing and signed by the club President, Chairman, Secretary or a nominated person acting on behalf of the club.
The citing must be received by the Constituent Body Discipline Chairman not later than the first post on the seventh day immediately following the match in which the incident took place. [Note – notification by fax is permitted but this must be followed by hard copy within seven days.]
The notification of intention to cite must –
State the date, venue and teams playing when the alleged incident took place.
Include full details of the alleged act of foul play, i.e. the time during the match, the postion on the field and the score at the time of the incident.
It must identify clearly, or provide the means to identify clearly, the player or players alleged to be guilty of foul play.
If video evidence is used TWO copies must be included.
Written, signed and dated statements of any witnesses must be included.
A cheque for £100 must be included with the notification of intention to cite.
[Note – all evidence relevant to the citing will be forwarded to the club of the cited person.]
THE FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH ANY OF THE ABOVE WILL RENDER A CITING INVALID.
As a matter of information –
Once a valid citing has been received written confirmation that the referee did not see the incident will be sought. If this is confirmed, the Chairman of the Constituent Body Disciplinary Committee will review the evidence and decide whether or not there is a case to answer.
If it is decided that the citing is valid and the player(s) decide to contest it, the citing club will have to present their own case to the Disciplinary Committee.
Should a club disagree with a decision not to proceed with a citing, the club may appeal to the RFU. This has to be done within seven days of receipt of notification that the Constituent Body considers the citing to be invalid.
The £100 may be forfeited if the citing is considered to be frivolous or if the citing fails to be proved at a hearing.
Finally – in exceptional circumstances the Constituent Body Disciplinary Committee may institute proceedings under Rule 5.12 of the RFU. However, this power is unlikely to be exercised for acts of foul play.