Definitions of Suspensions

Categories of Suspensions

Touchline Suspension

A Touchline Suspension is a ban from any immediate contact with players, club officials and match officials participating in a match for the duration of the match. A Touchline Suspension may be imposed on a player and an official. A Touchline Suspension prohibits an individual from:

• Attending the dugouts and technical areas before, during and after the match.
• Entering the field-of-play and the prohibited area in the vicinity of the touchline and goal lines.
• Coaching or issuing instructions in a public way.
• Engaging the match officials whilst they are on the field-of-play or in the tunnel and/or private way leading from the dressing rooms to the field-of-play.
• The player or official under a Touchline Suspension is permitted to attend the team changing room pre match, at half time and post match. Furthermore, the individual is permitted to approach the match officials pre or post match whilst they are in their dressing room and provided the match officials are agreeable to the approach.

The FAW is aware that due to the nature of many grounds, the individual under a Touchline Suspension may stand behind the perimeter barrier surrounding the field-of-play but still remain sufficiently close enough to the field-of-play to allow them to continue coaching. This will be considered as a breach of the Touchline Suspension and will result in the Football Association of Wales preferring charges of misconduct against the club and player or official who is under the suspension.

Where a stand exists within the ground, the Football Association of Wales requires the player or official to sit in the stand away from the field-of-play.

During a Touchline Suspension, the player or official may communicate with the dugout via a radio or other electronic communication. However, the individual is prohibited from having personal contact with any coaching staff whilst the game is on-going.

Match Suspension

A Match Suspension is a ban on taking part in a match and on attending it in the area immediately surrounding the field-of-play. A Match Suspension may be imposed on a player or an official.

The area immediately surrounding the field-of-play includes:

• The field-of-play.
• The dressing rooms and their immediate area.
• The tunnel and/or private way leading from the dressing rooms to the field-of-play.
• The dugouts, benches and technical areas.
• The prohibited area in the vicinity of the touchline and goal lines.
• The player or official under a Match Suspension is prohibited from contact with match officials, players and club officials, as well as giving any media interviews, before, during and after the match.

A match suspension does not prohibit a player or official from attending or taking part in a club organised training session or a match between teams made up of players registered with his/her club. However, a player or official is prohibited from attending or taking part in a friendly or training match against a team from another club.

A club who permits a player or an official to attend a ground whilst serving a Match Suspension will be responsible for ensuring the terms of the suspension are adhered to.

Ground Suspension

A Ground Suspension is a ban from attending or taking part in any association football match played at a ground under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Wales. A Ground Suspension can be imposed on a player, an official or spectator.

A Suspension From All Football Related Activity

A suspension from all football related activity prohibits an individual from any involvement in football. This includes but is not limited to;

• Attending any association football match played at a ground under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Wales.
• Participating in any association football match played at a ground under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Wales.
• Attending or participating in any training activities connected to any club under the jurisdiction of the Football Association of Wales.
• Conducting any administrative duties connected to football or a football club.
• A suspension from all football related activity may be placed on a player, official or spectator.

A Breach of the Terms of Suspension Imposed

A breach of the terms of a Touchline Suspension, Match Suspension, Ground Suspension or Suspension from all football related Activity, will result in the Football Association of Wales preferring charges of misconduct against the club and/or the individual concerned.

Suspensions for Failure to Pay Disciplinary Invoices

The Suspensions for Failure to Pay Disciplinary Invoices report details those persons who have been suspended from all aspects of football in accordance with FAW Rule 49 i.e. 'failing to pay or carry out any penalty, sanction, order or ruling made under the Reduced Penalty Regulations or by the Judicial Panels'. These persons have been notified of the suspension and will remain suspended until such time as all outstanding orders have been cleared.

Any club who allows an individual on this list to participate in football may be subject to a charge of misconduct in accordance with FAW Rule 38.1.6.