Complaints & Disciplinary Procedure

Saltcoats Victoria FC wants to hear when things go wrong, so we can put them right. This procedure explains how to raise a complaint about the club, and how the club deals with breaches of its rules and codes.

Part 1: Complaints

Who can complain

Any player, parent or carer, volunteer, member, sponsor, supporter or member of the public who has dealings with the club.

What this covers

The conduct of club members or volunteers, how the club has treated you, the ground, tickets, the shop, or any decision made by the club. It does not cover: decisions by match officials on the field of play, matters that belong to the league or the Scottish FA (although we will tell you where to take them), or safeguarding concerns, which must always go straight to the Safeguarding Officer under our safeguarding policies.

How to complain

Informal. Many problems can be sorted quickly by talking to the person concerned, or to a club official.
Formal. If that does not work, or you would rather not, email saltcoatsvictoria@gmail.com or write to the club secretary at the ground address on our contact page, saying what happened, when, who was involved, and what you would like us to do.

What we will do

Acknowledge your complaint within 7 days.
Have it looked at by a committee member who was not involved in the matter.
Speak to the people concerned, and to you where needed.
Aim to give you a written outcome within 28 days. If it will take longer, we will tell you why and when to expect it.

Appeal

If you are not satisfied, you can ask for the outcome to be reviewed by the club chair, or by a committee member who has not been involved, within 14 days of receiving it. The decision after that review is the club’s final decision, although it does not affect your right to go to the league, the Scottish FA or any other body that has authority.

Complaints about the committee

If your complaint concerns the chair or the secretary, address it to another committee member, who will arrange for it to be dealt with by someone else.

Part 2: Disciplinary procedure

This applies to players, coaches, volunteers, officials and members who are alleged to have broken the club’s Code of Conduct, its policies, Ground Regulations, or the rules of the league or the Scottish FA.

Principles

Fairness: a person is told what is alleged and has the chance to respond before a decision is made.
Proportionality: any action is appropriate to what happened.
Consistency: similar cases are treated in a similar way.
Confidentiality: only people who need to know are told.
Serious safeguarding, criminal or match-integrity matters may be referred immediately to the police, the Scottish FA or the league, and the club’s own procedure may be paused while they are looked into.

Stages

Informal word. For minor matters, a club official speaks to the person, explains what is expected and makes a note.
Investigation. If it is more serious, or is repeated, the committee appoints someone to look into it. They speak to those involved and collect evidence.
Hearing. The person is told in writing of the allegation and given reasonable notice of a meeting with at least two committee members not involved in the case. They may bring a supporter, and for players under 18 a parent or carer.
Outcome. The panel decides and confirms in writing. Outcomes can include no action, a verbal or written warning, an apology or agreed change of behaviour, suspension from club activities, removal from the club or a ban from the ground.
Appeal. The person can appeal in writing within 7 days to the club chair, or to a committee member not involved. The appeal decision is final within the club.