Please note an important entry in the Standard Code of Rules

Clubs must comply with the provisions of any initiatives of The FA which are adopted by the Competition including, but not limited to, England Football Accredited League and FA Respect programmes.

As an England Football Accredited League this Competition requires all its Clubs to have achieved England Football Accredited Club Status by 1st May 2026.

The League Management Committee may expel any Club that has failed to achieve England Football Accredited Club status. New Member Clubs have One Year to achieve the England Football Accredited Club award. The League has the right to refuse Membership to a Club if it fails to demonstrate commitment to achieving the award. Any Member Club who has their England Football Accredited Club status removed by their relevant County Association will not be able to apply to join the League the following season as they will not meet League Entry requirements. The Club may re apply for their England Football Accredited Club status with their relevant County Association after 12 Months. Teams in the Dorset Football League will be subject to the following Four stage disciplinary process during a playing season.

[This Disciplinary process is a League based initiative and is separate to CFA Disciplinary processes]

STAGE 1 Where a team accumulates 25 penalty points and / or on reaching 4 E Misconduct charges, that team’s Club shall be issued with a warning which may (amongst other things) include details as to how the Club may seek assistance from its Affiliated Association to improve its disciplinary record.

STAGE 2 Where a team accumulates 50 penalty points and / or on reaching 6 E Misconduct charges, that Team’s Club will be called before the LMC and be issued with a Further warning which may (amongst other things) include details as to how the Club has sought assistance from its Affiliated Association to improve its disciplinary record.

STAGE 3 Where a team accumulates 75 penalty points and / or on reaching 8 E Misconduct charges, at this stage; that Team’s Club will be further called before the LMC and must identify further actions that they are taking to improve Discipline including additional assistance from its Affiliated Association. The Club will also be charged in line with League Rule 6 A “Bringing the League into disrepute”

STAGE 4Where a team accumulates 100 penalty points and / or on reaching 10 E Misconduct charges, Additional Action will be taken in Line with League Rule 12C due to their Undesirable Disciplinary record, which may Result in expulsion from the League. The Club will also be further charged in line with League Rule 6 A “Bringing the League into disrepute” The DCFA or Relevant CFA reserve the right to automatically remove the Award for Clubs found guilty of serious infringements (i.e. Assault on the Match Officials) and for Clubs regularly violating League Membership Rules. Failure to comply with this Rule will result in a fine in accordance with the Fines Tariff.