Mistaken Identity

Clubs can appeal any red or yellow card on the basis of mistaken identity.

Please note this only refers to incidents where the wrong player is shown the card on the field of play and does not relate to an administrative error in recording the caution or red card in the Whole Game System.

Lodging a Claim

Claims can be lodged through the Whole Game System or by contacting the Berks & Bucks FA office. This must be done ahead of the claim deadline.

The club and both players (ie the player who was cautioned/sent off and the player who should have been cautioned/sent off) must submit written statements and any evidence, along with the relevant fee (£50 Steps 5-7, £30 non-NLS) within three working days of the game - not the date the card notification is received:

We strongly urge all clubs to confirm the identities of players cautioned/sent off with a referee following a game, and notify the County FA immediately if they feel a mistake has been made.

What happens next?

The referee report and all evidence submitted by the club will be passed to a County Disciplinary Commission within seven days of the game and before an automatic penalty is due to start.  The player, club and referee are not invited to attend the hearing.  You will be notified of the outcome of the appeal immediately following the hearing.  

If the commission agree with the claim, the punishment will be transferred to the correct player and the claim fee will be refunded.

More Information

If you need any further support on this topic, please contact us via the Support Hub.

For more information about discipline in grassroots football, please visit www.Berks-BucksFA.com. Alternatively, find us on socials @berksandbucksfa for the latest news and updates.