What happens if someone complains about my refereeing?

Under Canada Soccer Regulation 19.9, Canada Soccer or your Member Association (provincial or territorial association), acting through its Referees' Committee, can act on your registration if you have:

1. less than proficiently applied the Laws of the Game;
2. committed a technical irregularity (for example, failing to file reports, answer correspondence or attend a hearing);
3. acted as an agent for a club or player in a transfer;
4. wilfully misstated your age or date of birth;
5. as a player or coach, broken the Laws so badly that a disciplinary committee suspended you; or
6. committed an act of misconduct under Canada Soccer or Member Association rules.

Process:

• A complaint about items 1 or 2 must come to the attention of Canada Soccer or the Member Association within 14 days of the incident to be acted on.
• The Referees' Committee must tell you the allegation and supporting facts in writing.
• You have 14 days to respond. You can deny it and give your side, admit it and make submissions, or request a personal hearing (the request must be accompanied by a $100 fee).
• Only Canada Soccer or the Member Association may act on a referee's registration. A competition or league cannot.
• A competition cannot remove or suspend you from its list on its own; that power rests with Canada Soccer or the Member Association.

Source: Canada Soccer Rules and Regulations, November 2025, Regulation 19.7 and 19.9 (https://canadasoccer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/CS_2025_RR_FINAL_EN-1.pdf).