Fontana Premier Soccer League

Any official registered coach, team manager, and/or team owner who wishes to file a protest and/or appeal under any of the sections of the FPSL Internal Regulations must follow the procedure outlined below.

1. Written Submission and Notification
All protests must be submitted in writing, stating the reason or motive for the action. The opposing party must be notified at the time of the event by the protesting party, referee, and/or league coordinator of the intended action and the next steps to follow.

2. Filing Deadline
All protests must be submitted in writing within 24 hours after the event and/or match that is the subject of the protest has concluded.

3. Referee Report Requirement
Every protest must be accompanied by a Referee Report, which must be requested by the protesting party at the time of the incident/event, completion of match, or within 24 hours after the match that is the subject of the protest.

4. Submission for Review
Both the Protest Report and the Referee Report must be submitted to the league for disciplinary review.

5. Appeals
Appeals may be submitted as additional supporting documentation for the disciplinary review. Submission of an appeal is optional for the opposing team.
Please note that the disciplinary review process will proceed regardless of whether an appeal report is submitted.

 6. Eligibility and Scope
Only officially registered head coaches, team managers, or team owners may file a protest.
Protests are limited to violations of league regulations, including but not limited to:

Use of ineligible or unregistered players
Improper match procedures or misapplication of rules
Administrative or roster discrepancies

Judgment calls made by referees (such as fouls, offsides, or penalty decisions) cannot be protested.

7. Evidence Requirements
All protests must include clear supporting documentation or evidence, such as:

Player credentials or ID cards (for eligibility disputes)
Match sheets, referee statements, or video evidence if available
Protests that lack supporting documentation, explanation, or proper notification will not be accepted for review.

8. League Review Committee
All protests and appeals will be reviewed by the FPSL Disciplinary Committee (or equivalent League Review Board).
The Committee shall consist of three impartial members appointed by the League Director, who will review all protests in accordance with the FPSL Internal Regulations.
The Committee has the authority to request additional information, interview parties involved, and issue binding decisions.

9. Decision Timeline
The Disciplinary Committee will review and issue a decision within 72 hours of receiving the completed Protest and Referee Reports, unless additional investigation is required.
All decisions shall be final and binding, except when new, material evidence is submitted within 48 hours of the ruling, at which point a secondary review may be considered.

10. Penalties and Enforcement
If a protest is upheld, the Committee may impose one or more of the following actions:

Forfeiture of the match (recorded as a 2–0 result)
Suspension or disqualification of ineligible players
Team or administrative penalties (warnings, fines, or point deductions)
Frivolous or false protests intended to disrupt league operations may result in disciplinary action against the protesting team, including suspension or fines.

11. Communication and Confidentiality
All communications related to protests and appeals must be made through official league channels (email or designated FPSL platform).
All information, evidence, and communications are confidential until a decision has been formally issued.

12. Recordkeeping
The league will maintain complete records of all protests, appeals, and rulings for a minimum period of one year.
These records may be used as precedent for future cases and for internal compliance audits.

13. League Authority
The FPSL reserves the right to interpret, modify, or amend these procedures as necessary to ensure fairness, transparency, and compliance with the FPSL Internal Regulations.
All protests and appeals will be resolved in a just and equitable manner, with the objective of maintaining the integrity of league competition.