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15. MATCH OFFICIALS
15.1 Match Officials for all Competition matches shall be appointed by the Appointing Authority.
15.2 No Club shall postpone a Competition match on account of the apparent state of the ground. In the event that such circumstances prevail, Clubs should comply with procedures provided for in the document published by The FA “Recommended procedure for the guidance of Clubs and Referees in determining the suitability of grounds in adverse weather conditions”. Should the ground be declared unfit it is the responsibility of the home Club to immediately advise the Competition, the Appointing Authority, the visiting Club and the Match Officials.
(In Division 1 matches only, the official postponing the match (who must be a NCE Supply League or FA Contributory League official) shall submit to the Competition Secretary either (A) a telephone or fax report on the day of the match as soon after the postponement as possible or (B) a written report within two days of the match.)
15.3 In the event of any of the Match Officials appointed for a match not being in attendance at the match or becoming unable to complete the match it shall be completed under the control of the remaining Match Officials unless the competing Clubs are able to agree upon a substitute who is acceptable to the Match Referee; should the appointed Match Referee fail to appear then the senior Assistant Referee must take charge. Any substitute agreed for a match shall be considered a Match Official for the purposes of that match.
In the event that a Club causes a match to be abandoned in relation to the operation of this Rule then that Club shall be charged with failing to fulfil a fixture (Rule 8.6 refers).
15.4 Match Officials should be present at the appointment at least one hour prior to the scheduled time of kick-off. The appointed Referee may be required to visit the ground earlier if requested to do so by the home Club.
15.5 In cases where it is found necessary to stop play owing to the weather or other cause, the Referee must wait a reasonable length of time before deciding on abandonment.
15.6 Referees must report on the relevant form all cases where teams commence a match late or without eleven players on the field of play. Referees must also report their own or any assistant referee’s late arrival in any matches, and notify those concerned at the time of their intention. Assistant referees must also send an explanation of their late arrival to the Appointing Authority in writing by first class post within 3 days of the match.
15.7 The home Club will be responsible for paying the Match Officials the fees and match expenses set by the Appointing Authority on the day of the match in their dressing room, within a reasonable time after the conclusion of the match (including matches abandoned for any reason). In the case of a postponed match, whether or not gate money is taken, any Match Official who has travelled to the match will be entitled to claim travelling expenses and half their match fee from the home Club. Where provided by the home Club, each Match Official must complete and submit a claim form for expenses.
15.8 The home Club shall be responsible for providing Match Officials with distinctive flags of a suitable size in an acceptable condition.
15.9 Three match balls proposed to be used in the match and, if applicable, supplied by the Company under a ball sponsorship agreement, must be submitted to and approved by the Referee before the commencement of the match in his dressing room.
15.10 The home Club shall supply to the visiting Club a minimum of three practice balls for use prior to the start of the match. The balls provided must be in good condition and, if applicable, as supplied by the Competition under a ball sponsorship agreement.
15.11 Referees must report all breaches of Rule to the Competition Secretary in writing within three days of the match on the appropriate form by first class post.
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