How do disciplinary hearings work?

Q: How do disciplinary hearings work?

Under SAFA Competitions Uniform Rules 21-23: Before the hearing SAFA, and each provincial, regional and local member, appoints a Disciplinary Committee. A panel chair may hear a matter alone. Everyone summoned must be told the time and place at least 72 hours before the hearing. The summons sets out the charges and lists the documents relied on. Parties prepare indexed and paginated bundles of documents and exchange them beforehand. At the hearing You may have legal or other representation at your own cost, but it mustn't delay the hearing. If you were properly summoned and don't attend, the hearing goes ahead without you and you can be suspended until you appear. The charge must be proved on a balance of probabilities. Facts in match officials' reports are presumed accurate, though they can be disproved. Hearsay is not allowed. TV and video footage may be used but doesn't change match officials' decisions of fact. In a protest or complaint, the club that brought it prosecutes its own case. Possible sanctions (Rule 23.25) include suspensions, fines up to R20 000, deducting league points, ordering a replay or awarding the match, closing a ground, barring the team from next season's competition, and recommending to the Competitions Committee that the team be expelled or suspended (with its results expunged).

Question

Accepted Answer

Under SAFA Competitions Uniform Rules 21-23:

Before the hearing

SAFA, and each provincial, regional and local member, appoints a Disciplinary Committee. A panel chair may hear a matter alone.
Everyone summoned must be told the time and place at least 72 hours before the hearing. The summons sets out the charges and lists the documents relied on.
Parties prepare indexed and paginated bundles of documents and exchange them beforehand.

At the hearing

You may have legal or other representation at your own cost, but it mustn't delay the hearing.
If you were properly summoned and don't attend, the hearing goes ahead without you and you can be suspended until you appear.
The charge must be proved on a balance of probabilities. Facts in match officials' reports are presumed accurate, though they can be disproved.
Hearsay is not allowed. TV and video footage may be used but doesn't change match officials' decisions of fact.
In a protest or complaint, the club that brought it prosecutes its own case.

Possible sanctions (Rule 23.25) include suspensions, fines up to R20 000, deducting league points, ordering a replay or awarding the match, closing a ground, barring the team from next season's competition, and recommending to the Competitions Committee that the team be expelled or suspended (with its results expunged).