Mayo Association Football League Rule 17 - How Would It Go Down With Other Leagues ??
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mayo Association Football League
RULE 17 :GROUNDS
Before the commencement of each season, the MAFL shall review the ground which each
member or applicant Club proposes to use as its home venue and will decide on its
suitability or otherwise. Inspections will also be carried out during the season. The MAFL shall
have the power to deem any ground unsuitable.
This rule will not infinge on a match referee’s right to deem any ground unplayable on match day.
All Clubs must have dugouts with technical areas marked out. The only persons permitted inside
the pitch enclosure and dugouts on match days shall be the players, five named substitutes and
three team officials from each team plus the match officials, Only one official can be standing in
the technical area. Clubs must provide changing facilities for both teams and the match officials
with hot and cold running water in all three. Pitches must be enclosed on all four sides to the
satisfaction of the MAFL and have a minimum of three metre clearance between touchline and
enclosure.
In all Mayo League competitions, the home team shall have home advantage or the right to obtain
an alternative ground within a 15 mile radius on the day. In all Mayo competitions, the home team
must take all reasonable steps to ensure that their ground is playable. The home team must have
their ground (or alternative ground) inspected well in advance of kick-off to ensure that in the
event of the ground being unplayable, their opponents would be notified in adequate time to
prevent them travelling. The League Fixtures Secretary and appointed referee must also be
notified. The ground inspection must be conducted by the appointed match official. If the
appointed official is some distance from the ground then another official may be used by prior
agreement with the Fixtures Secretary.
In certain areas where no official referee is resident, a member of the L.M.C. may inspect a
ground and deem it playable or otherwise, provided the LMC member in question, is not a
member of, and has no connection with, either or the clubs involved in the match in question.
Where an LMC member has deemed a ground playable, the match referee upon his/her arrival
shall have the final say as to whether or not the game can proceed.
Should any Club or team travel to an unfit ground where the above precautions have not been
taken, the offending Club shall be liable for travelling expenses of the opponents as outlined in the
Disciplinary Guidelines and subject to disciplinary action.
In all Mayo League and cup competitions, where a ground has been declared unplayable by the
Referee, or unfit to play upon, for any reason, the competing team shall notify the Fixture
Secretary who will then refix the match. Where a ground has been declared unplayable for any
reason but that the opposing team has travelled, the L.M.C. at its discretion can order that the
fixture be played on the teams ground that travelled providing the L.M.C. can satisfy itself beyond
all reasonable doubt that the home team did not take all reasonable steps to ensure that the fixture
would take place. For any refixture, the home ground must be inspected on the day
prior to the game as well as the morning of the game. In all cases in this rule where a Referee
travels to an unfit ground he is entitled to a ˝ match fee plus expenses.
In domestic cup competitions where the home ground is not playable on the day every effort must
be made to get an alternative ground or switch to the opponents ground. If the
away teams ground is not playable the game will be refixed by the fixture secretary at the away
teams ground.
Clubs are reminded that the F.A.I. and C.F.A. cup competitions may have their own rules as
regards the condition in paragraph 4.
Do you think that this rule would be a help or a hinderance to your club/League? This rule is largely seen as improving standards in Mayo facilities over the last twelve years.
