Basketball England Appeals and Compaints
Understanding different appeals and complaints.
There are several different issues that may be challenged, which are dealt with via different routes.
Understanding the different issues
In Game Incident – an incident that occurs during or shortly after the game, actioned and/or reported by the referee, and with a standard or automatic sanction imposed by the League.
League Rule Breach – a matter related to the competition rules, such as failure to fulfil a fixture or failure to submit a team sheet. Some will have automatic sanctions, others may be heard and considered by a league Committee.
League Discipline Charge – a discipline matter beyond the scope of in-game processes, dealt with as a discipline charge and adjudicated on by a Discipline Commission or Sub-Committee.
Summary Discipline Charge – this could be either a League or BE charge, and relates to an offence that has been accepted, and a sanction that has been proposed when charging, which is accepted by the offender. If the charge is not admitted, or the sanction not accepted, the case cannot proceed summarily.
Basketball England Discipline Charge – a discipline matter defined as a Serious Case under the BE Disciplinary Code, including offences against, or by, a Match official and any offence with a discriminatory element. These cases must be passed to BE as soon as they are identified.
Complaint – dissatisfaction with the service provided. These should be resolved through a complaints process, and are separate from disciplinary procedures.
Where an appeal is heard
| Issue | First Instance | Appeal | Further Appeal or Challenge |
| In Game Incident | Automatic League sanction | to League | No, unless explicitly permitted under League rules |
| League Rule Breach | Automatic League sanction | to League | No, unless explicitly permitted under League rules |
| League Committee decision | to Regional Association* | No | |
| League Discipline Charge | League Discipline Committee or Commission decision | to Regional Association* | No |
| Summary Discipline Charge | Offence is admitted, and sanction proposed at time of charge | No | No |
| BE Discipline Charge | Independent National Discipline Commission | to Independent Appeal Board | No |
| Complaint | As detailed in League or Organisation’s Complaints process | Escalation should be detailed within the Complaints process | Escalation should be detailed within the Complaints process |
*Regional Association will refer to BE, and BE will either appoint a national Appeal Board or delegate back to the Region.
If there is a concern that an affiliated league or association has breached either their own rules and regulations, or Basketball England’s rules or regulations, this should be passed to BE for investigation as a disciplinary matter. The actions of the league or association are dealt with as a separate matter from any original case that may have led to the complaint.