Grievance

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ETHICS AND GRIEVEANCE PROCEDURE FOR REFEREES, ADMINISTRATORS, ASSIGNORS, INSTRUCTORS AND ASSESSORS

PURPOSE

To define a general policy and guideline under which the U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee Committee may (a) determine whether individual members act within acceptable limits so far as ethical conduct or conflict of interest are reflected in their conduct as soccer officials and members of the U.S. Soccer Federation, and (b) take action to discipline members who have acted outside acceptable limits, as indicated herein.

POLICY

Membership is a privilege offered and granted to individuals who perform capably as State Referee Administrators, referees, referee assignors, referee instructors and referee assessors during U.S. Soccer Federation sanctioned activities. It carries with it an obligation for each individual member to uphold and promote the stated goals and objectives of the federation and do nothing to bring the Federation into disrepute or work against its goals and objectives. Any conduct which is considered unethical or as conflict of interest shall be subject to discipline by the U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee Committee.

PROCEDURE

1. Any member or affiliated body of the U.S. Soccer Federation may file a complaint of unethical conduct or conflict of interest against any Committee Chairman, State Referee Administrator, State Youth Referee Administrator, referee assignor, registered referee, registered referee instructor or registered referee assessor of the Federation. All complaints must be made in writing, to the duly authorized State Referee Administrator and/or State Referee Committee having jurisdiction over the member. That State Referee Administrator and/or State Referee Committee shall investigate the matter to its satisfaction, and then take the appropriate action to either dismiss the charge (s) as unsustained, or to invoke the appropriate discipline as prescribed under the "Table of Penalties".
2. National State Associations take jurisdiction when the State Referee Administrator is the member the complaint is filed against or if the State Referee Administrator or State Referee Committee is unable to come to a decision within thirty (30) days of receiving the complaint or if the aggrieved party appeals the decision of the State Administrator or the State Referee Committee.
3. The U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee Committee takes jurisdiction over those complaints where the National State Association is unable to reach a decision within (30) days of receiving the complaint or if a party appeals the decision of the National State Association.
4. All final decisions must be rendered in writing, and copies mailed within two weeks of the decision, to all parties concerned.

TABLE OF PENALTIES

When complaints are sustained, the action taken is to be from among the following:

1. Letter of reprimand
2. A fine
3. Suspension from all active participation in the Federation for a fixed period of time
4. Combination of 1, 2 and 3 above
5. Dismissal from the U.S. Soccer Federation

The severity of the discipline shall be determined by the decision making body having jurisdiction.

When felt appropriate by the decision making body having jurisdiction, the member who the complaint is against may be temporarily suspended from active U.S. Soccer Federation Participation during investigation of the complaints. The temporary suspension may not exceed 90 days unless the aggrieved party has appealed the decision. Any member, while under suspension, may not take part in any activity sponsored by the U.S. Soccer Federation and/or its member bodies.

APPEAL PROCEDURE

Members who have received a penalty under this policy may appeal the decision and penalty, providing:

1. They do so in writing with not less than six (6) copies of the appeal being sent.
2. They do so within thirty (30) days of receiving notice of the decision.
3. The applicable fee of $100 in the form of a money order, cashiers or certified check shall accompany the appeal.
4. They follow the U.S. Soccer Federation Referee Committee Policy Statement Standards of Conduct: Ethics and Grievance Procedure.
5. They make the appeal to the proper level above the decision making level invoking the penalty.

ETHICS AND GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

STEP 1 Grievance filed in writing with State Referee Administrator.

STEP 2 Grievance filed in writing with National State Association.

STEP 3 Grievance filed in writing with U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee Committee.

LEVELS OF APPEAL

STEP 1 Appeal filed in writing with National State Association.

STEP 2 Appeal filed in writing with U.S. Soccer Federation National Referee Committee.