Basketball England Discipline and Safeguarding Publication Policy 2025

Updated: July 2025

Definitions of terms used in this document can be found HERE.

1. All disciplinary and safeguarding proceedings shall take place in private and the outcome of any such proceedings will remain private and confidential until such time that Basketball England publishes the details or outcome.
2. Written reasons may be produced for serious cases that are heard by a disciplinary commission. When written reasons are produced, they can be provided to any member directly involved in the case on a private and confidential basis.
3. Basketball England may publish case details relating to any discipline charge, including details of the charge, sanction, and/or suspension being served by any participant.
4. Basketball England may also publish details of any suspension issued in relation to safeguarding concerns.
5. Where case details or suspensions are published, these will be published on the integrity section of the Basketball England website.

Cases covered by the publication policy

6. Case details may be published for any disciplinary case determined by Basketball England to be a serious case, including but not limited to the following:

6.1. Discriminatory language or behaviour towards any person

6.2. Discriminatory language or behaviour expressed in any written form or on social media

6.3. Violence or threats in any form towards match officials

6.4. Any action online or offline by members in positions of trust and authority which brings the game of basketball into disrepute

6.5. Any other matter deemed appropriate by Basketball England at their sole discretion.

7. Details of suspensions arising from any discipline charge or safeguarding concern may be published at the discretion of Basketball England.

Information included in case details

8. Information that may be published ordinarily includes, but is not limited to, the following:

8.1. The names of the individual and/or club charged

8.2. The nature of the charge

8.3. Details of any sanction imposed.

9. Where the individual charged is aged U18, their name and club will not be published. The outcome may still be published in an anonymised manner.

Exceptions to the publication of case details

Case details will not be published. Where a genuine risk of harm to an individual can be demonstrated as a likely outcome of publication. This must be evidenced by the individual who is objecting to publication, and a final decision on publication will be at the sole discretion of Basketball England.

10. If it is deemed necessary and appropriate, Basketball England may publish case detailswhere risk of harm has been established. In such cases, information relating to the identification of any individuals at risk of harm, will be redacted.

11. Where a case involves an U18 or adult at risk as a witness or victim, Basketball England retains discretion regarding any decision to publish the case details.

Objecting to the publication of case details or suspensions

12. Case details and suspension details will be published in an anonymised manner for individuals aged under 18, in accordance with this policy.
13. An objection to the publication of case details or suspension details must be in accordance with the following process:

13.1. Any objection to publication must be received by Basketball England within seven days of Basketball England sending notification of the applicable outcome or suspension.

13.2. The objection must include full details of the reason for objection and all information and evidence to be relied upon.

13.3. To be successful, the objection must demonstrate a genuine risk of harm as a likely outcome of publication. Harm is only considered as a risk to the personal safety of an individual. It does not include any other type of harm, such as harm to a business, reputation or wellbeing.

13.4. The objection will be considered by Basketball England and a decision will be made based on the written submission and will be at the sole discretion of Basketball England.

13.5. No appeal against the decision of Basketball England will be permitted.