Following recent reports of serious disciplinary incidents within the County, please see below guidance from Middlesex FA, detailing how to report incidents of misconduct most effectively within grassroots football.

We feel it is important to share this to provide participants with a level of clarity on the reporting procedures, how this can differ depending on the severity of the incident and how to ensure you can safeguard yourself and others.

As is common practice, standard on-field/off-field incidents can be reported directly to the relevant County FA, who will duly investigate and follow The FA’s disciplinary procedures to reach a conclusion. Reports can be submitted by any participant within the game, as well as spectators. The most appropriate contact details for Middlesex FA’s discipline department can be found below:

• Middlesex FA – discipline@middlesexfa.com
• 020 8515 1919 (Option 3)

Cases of including assault (as defined by s.39 Criminal Justice Act 1988) and the use of weapons or anything where there is a danger to life or risk of serious injury should be reported immediately to the Police. Please contact the Police on 999 in the first instance or 101 for non-emergency enquiries. You will likely be required to provide a full statement from the incident, so please make sure to inform them of all details.

Please note that County FAs cannot report these matters on behalf of yourselves as a witness/victim. If you would rather report something anonymously, you can do so through Crimestoppers, who are contactable on 0800 555 111.

At the same time, this should also be reported to the County FA along with a crime reference number, who will commence their own disciplinary investigation. It’s important to note that even during a Police investigation, this would not prevent the County FA from carrying out its own investigation into the matter.

We hope this information will allow you to report instances of misconduct and help to effectively safeguard all participants from serious incidents as much as we possibly can with a greater degree of confidence.