Specialist Panel Member
The Football Association
The Football Association is the governing body of association football in England and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man.
- Posted
- 21 Jun 2022
- Status
- Contract - Fixed Term
- Part Time
- Location
- England
- Closing date
- 17 Jul 2022
THE FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION
The Football Association (The FA) is a multi-faceted organisation which has the responsibility of overseeing, promoting and developing the game of association football at all levels in England, from grassroots through to the professional game, The FA Cup and the England international teams. A core part of The FA's activities is to act as the governing body of the game, including the implementation of regulatory, disciplinary and rule-making functions.
THE JUDICIAL PANEL
The Judicial Panel is established by The FA Council as the pool of individuals from which Regulatory Commissions and Appeal Boards are drawn by the Judicial Panel Chairman to hear cases or appeals in connection with disciplinary and other regulatory processes of The FA, such as anti-doping and integrity.
Regulatory Commissions are three-person, first-instance panels which hear cases and have the power to impose penalties, interim suspensions, and other orders for misconduct against Participants in the game of football, where appropriate. Appeal Boards are three-person panels which hear appeals of Regulatory Commission decisions.
The Judicial Panel Chairman wishes to appoint a number of Specialist Panel Members (i.e. professionally qualified barristers or solicitors with a minimum of 7 years post-qualification experience) to the Judicial Panel, who have the appropriate experience of sports regulation in order to deal with cases from across all applicable levels under the direct jurisdiction of a Regulatory Commission and their Appeal Boards i.e. Premier League, English Football League, National League (Steps 1 & 2), the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues (Steps 3 & 4) and the Women's Super League & Women's Championship. As a Specialist Panel Member, you will play a key part in upholding the integrity of football in England, alongside the other Judicial Panel Members which include Independent Football Panel Members.
ATTRIBUTES REQUIRED
The key attributes required are:
- A qualified solicitor or barrister with a minimum of 7 years post-qualification experience. Queen's Counsel level desirable but not mandatory;
- A demonstrable knowledge and appreciation of football;
- A significant knowledge and understanding of the regulatory framework in sport;
- An ability to assess evidence and submissions put before a Regulatory Commission or Appeal Board in an open, knowledgeable and fair-minded way;
- Sound and objective judgment;
- An aptitude to work to tight timescales, under pressure while dealing with high profile cases that must be treated in the strictest of confidence;
- Strong interpersonal skills, excellent listening and communication skills;
- Integrity, impartiality and high ethical standards;
- A significant understanding of the regulatory framework for domestic football would be advantageous, although not essential; and
- An understanding of regulations relating to and/or direct previous involvement dealing with one or more of the following would be advantageous:
- Anti-doping, safeguarding, betting, on-field misconduct, technical area misconduct, intermediaries, discrimination cases, club administration responsibilities (e.g. contracts/registrations & team sheets/fielding eligible players), and other integrity related sports regulation would be advantageous, although not essential.
TIME COMMITMENT
Regulatory Commissions and Appeal Boards are convened on a frequent basis during the regular footballing season and also throughout the remainder of the calendar year. Since COVID-19 personal hearings more often than not take place over video conference but also occur in Wembley Stadium; Non-personal hearings take place over video conference. Specialist Panel Members are expected to make themselves available to fulfil their fair share of the cases and/or appeals arising in any given year.
An attendance fee is payable to Specialist Panel Members for their time spent preparing and attending Regulatory Commission and/or Appeal Board hearings, as well as drafting or assisting with the drafting of written reasons. Reasonable expenses properly incurred may also be reclaimed when travelling to Wembley for a hearing.
The appointment is for a fixed term of three years. Specialist Panel Members are eligible to apply for further terms, subject to the business needs of The FA.
HOW TO PROGRESS APPLICATION
If you feel that you have the relevant skills and experience, please click 'Apply Now' to begin the application process. You will be required to submit your CV and short covering letter highlighting your suitability for the role by reference to the key attributes outlined above.
As the requirement of the role may change, this document should be viewed as guidance only. The Football Association Group promotes inclusion and diversity and welcomes applications from everyone.