If a player accumulates five recorded cautions in first team competitive matches between the opening day of the season and the last day in February in the same season, he will be suspended automatically for a period covering one first team match. The suspension will come into operation seven days after the fifth offence.

If a player accumulates ten recorded cautions in first team competitive matches between the opening day of the playing season and the second Sunday in April in the same season, he will be suspended automatically for a period covering two first team matches. The suspension will come into operation seven days after the 10th offence.

If a player accumulates 15 recorded cautions in first team competitive matches between the opening day of the playing season and the last day in the same season, he will be suspended automatically for a period covering three first team matches. The suspension will come into operation seven days after the 15th offence.

YELLOW CARDS 2004/05

9 - Ben Futcher
8 - Peter Gain
7 - Paul Morgan
6 - Francis Green
6 - Simon Yeo
6 - Gareth McAuley
5 - Gary Taylor-Fletcher
4 - Nathan Peat
4 - Richard Butcher
3 - Lee Beevers
3 - Jamie McCombe
2 - Michael Blackwood
2 - Dean West
2 - Kevin Sandwith
1 - Niall McNamara
1 - Greg Pearson
1 - Simon Weaver
1 - Martin Carruthers
1 - Marcus Richardson
1 - Matthew Bloomer
1 - Craig Westcarr
1 - Ritchie Hanlon

RED CARDS 2004/05

1 - Marcus Richardson
1 - Ben Futcher *RESCINDED*

Forthcoming Suspensions:

None.

Completed Suspensions:

Peter Gain - completed suspension from all football until the Club had completed one first team match for 5 cautions. Start date: 12/02/2005.

Francis Green - completed suspension from all football until the Club had completed one first team match for 5 cautions. Start date: 16/01/2005.

Ben Futcher - completed suspension from all football until the Club had completed one first team match for 5 cautions. Start date: 23/10/2004.

Marcus Richardson - completed suspension from all football until the Club had completed three first team matches for a Sending Off in a match played on 25/09/2004.

DISCIPLINARY RECORD 2004/05

28.05.05 - Southend United POF (n) - YC: Ben Futcher (120)
21.05.05 - Macclesfield Town POSF (a) - YC: Kevin Sandwith (37), Gareth McAuley (38), Jamie McCombe (45+)
14.05.05 - Macclesfield Town POSF (h) - none
07.05.05 - Yeovil Town (a) - none
30.04.05 - Darlington (h) - YC: Gary Taylor-Fletcher (47), Peter Gain (52)
23.04.05 - Northampton Town (a) - YC: Peter Gain (63), Lee Beevers (89)
16.04.05 - Macclesfield Town (h) - YC: Paul Morgan (54)
09.04.05 - Swansea City (h) - YC: Simon Yeo (23), Paul Morgan (44)
02.04.05 - Notts County (a) - YC: Paul Morgan (41), Jamie McCombe (42), Ben Futcher (90), Richard Butcher (90+)
28.03.05 - Scunthorpe United (h) - none
25.03.05 - Rushden & Diamonds (a) - YC: Francis Green (42), Simon Yeo (73)
19.03.05 - Shrewsbury Town (h) - none
12.03.05 - Southend United (a) - YC: Ben Futcher (74), Lee Beevers (88), Peter Gain (88)
05.03.05 - Wycombe Wanderers (h) - YC: Lee Beevers (44), Gareth McAuley (45+)
26.02.05 - Cheltenham Town (a) - none
22.02.05 - Leyton Orient (a) - none
19.02.05 - Cambridge United (h) - none
16.02.05 - Boston United (a) - YC: Ritchie Hanlon (14), Simon Yeo (70)
12.02.05 - Rochdale (a) - YC: Gareth McAuley (43)
05.02.05 - Oxford United (h) - YC: Peter Gain (90+)
29.01.05 - Mansfield Town (h) - none
22.01.05 - Grimsby Town (a) - YC: Craig Westcarr (80)
15.01.05 - Bristol Rovers (h) - YC: Paul Morgan (24), Francis Green (89)
08.01.05 - Kidderminster Harriers (a) - YC: Francis Green (35)
03.01.05 - Chester City (a) - YC: Gary Taylor-Fletcher (67)
01.01.05 - Bury (h) - none
29.12.04 - Grimsby Town (h) - YC: Paul Morgan (83), Richard Butcher (88)
18.12.04 - Wycombe Wanderers (a) - YC: Matthew Bloomer (76)
11.12.04 - Cheltenham Town (h) - YC: Ben Futcher (45), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (60), Nathan Peat (90+)
07.12.04 - Macclesfield Town (a) - YC: Richard Butcher (56)
27.11.04 - Yeovil Town (h) - RC: Ben Futcher (59) *Rescinded*; YC - Peter Gain (55), Simon Yeo (87)
20.11.04 - Darlington (a) - none
13.11.04 - Hartlepool United (a) - YC: Gareth McAuley (60), Jamie McCombe (70)
06.11.04 - Northampton Town (h) - YC: Marcus Richardson (90+)
30.10.04 - Cambridge United (a) - YC: Peter Gain (43), Martin Carruthers (54), Francis Green (73), Simon Yeo (84)
23.10.04 - Leyton Orient (h) - YC: Richard Butcher (87)
19.10.04 - Rochdale (h) - none
16.10.04 - Oxford United (a) - YC: Ben Futcher (28)
09.10.04 - Kidderminster Harriers (h) - none
02.10.04 - Mansfield Town (a) - YC: Simon Yeo (40), Nathan Peat (90+)
28.09.04 - Doncaster Rovers (h) - YC: Ben Futcher (62)
25.09.04 - Chester City (h) - RC: Marcus Richardson (90+); YC: Francis Green (37), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (45+)
21.09.04 - Birmingham City (a) - YC: Gareth McAuley (4), Ben Futcher (59), Nathan Peat (68)
18.09.04 - Bristol Rovers (a) - YC: Paul Morgan (12), Kevin Sandwith (71), Ben Futcher (87)
11.09.04 - Boston United (h) - YC: Peter Gain (51), Paul Morgan (69)
04.09.04 - Bury (a) - none
30.08.04 - Swansea City (a) - YC: Gareth McAuley (56), Nathan Peat (63), Ben Futcher (72), Peter Gain (76)
28.08.04 - Notts County (h) - none
24.08.04 - Derby County (h) - YC: Michael Blackwood (27)
21.08.04 - Scunthorpe United (a) - YC: Dean West (37), Greg Pearson (55), Gary Taylor-Fletcher (75)
14.08.04 - Rushden & Diamonds (h) - none
10.08.04 - Southend United (h) - YC: Francis Green (19), Michael Blackwood (55)
07.08.04 - Shrewsbury Town (a) - YC: Simon Weaver (77), Dean West (90), Niall McNamara (90)

2004/05 DISCIPLINARY CODE

A new disciplinary code has been implemented as a pilot scheme for the 2004/05 season in the Premier League, the Football League and the Football Conference National.

A review will take place at the end of the season with consideration to be given to an extension to leagues further down the football pyramid in subsequent seasons.

The result of a lengthy consultation process including all major stakeholders: The FA, the PFA, the LMA, the Premier League, the Football League, the Football Conference, feeder leagues and referees.

The new procedures meet FIFA requirements and were approved by the FA Council on 15 March 2004.

There are three main categories of the fast-track system:

1. Automatic suspensions for incidents seen and dealt with by the referee

Under the new Disciplinary Code, suspensions will come into effect immediately, unless a claim for wrongful dismissal or mistaken identity is lodged.

Clubs must notify The FA by 12 noon the next working day of their intention to submit a claim for wrongful dismissal or mistaken identity. The claim itself (along with relevant documentation/videos/fee, etc.) must be lodged by 12 noon the following working day.

All claims will be dealt with within four to five working days of a fixture. No Video Advisory Panel: claims go straight to Commissions. Players are permitted to play while their claims are being considered: however, there is provision for penalties for frivolous appeals.

2. On-field incidents not seen by match officials but caught on video

Applies to sending-off offences only: violent conduct, spitting, offensive words and gestures. Does not apply to offences categorised as improper conduct, i.e. not punishable by a red card.

Incidents to be dealt with as if the referee had seen them (same timing and sanction). Sanctions will take the form of match bans, no fines.

If there is a case to answer, charges will be issued within two working days along with an offer of sanction (mirroring the sanction for a sending-off).

If the player denies the charge, and does not accept the sanction offered, the case will be heard by a Disciplinary Commission within a week. Cases will be heard on the basis of documentation and video evidence - there is no personal representation for the player or The FA.

The Commission can either enforce the proposed sanction or rule the case not proven.

Any suspension will start immediately following the hearing.

Commission has one working day to compile written reasons if requested. For appeals see below. Representation is permitted for appeal hearings.

3. Incidents outside the jurisdiction of match officials but reported to The FA

Breaches that may constitute breaches of FA Rules, but not under the referees' authority under the Laws of the Game.

Includes failure to leave field of play after a red card, incidents after the final whistle, certain aggravated incidents.

The FA to issue charge within two working days. Requests for a personal hearing, specifying whether the charge is accepted or denied, must be lodged the following working day. Defendant then has another working day to provide any relevant submissions. The FA then has the option of responding within another two working days.

Personal hearing then to be scheduled for the next available date. Representation is permitted for such cases.

Commission has one working day to compile written reasons if requested. For appeals see below.

Fast-track Appeals

For offences not seen by the match officials, appeals will only be permitted if the ban exceeds three matches, and the appeal can only relate to the part of the sanction that exceeds three matches (i.e. the fourth match of a four-match ban).

For offences out of the jurisdiction of the match officials, appeals may be lodged against both the decision and the sanction.

The FA must be notified of the intention to appeal by 12 noon on the first working day following the hearing, or the first working day following receipt of written reasons.

Appeal documentation must be submitted within one working day of the appeal notification. The FA has two days to consider appeal documentation: the defence has one day to consider FA response. Appeals will be heard at the first available date.

The above procedures apply to cases involving players only.

For cases involving non-players and for more complex cases (tunnel incidents, doping, child protection, financial matters, certain aggravated incidents, etc.) the Disciplinary Commissions will control the speed of the process.

Match bans following an accumulation of yellow cards (5, 10, 15, etc.) will come into effect seven days after the last card, rather than 14 days.

Disciplinary Commissions may include a fourth co-opted member from a pool of six representatives from the wider football community (i.e. three Disciplinary Committee members plus a layperson) when appropriate. Co-opted members have voting rights.

Appeal boards will be comprised of a legally-qualified Independent Chairman (selected by the Sports Dispute Resolution Panel), an FA Council member and a layperson from the pool.

The new processes will be monitored during the season and reviewed next summer.