What do I do if a team arrives late?

Q: What do I do if a team arrives late?

SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 28 gives no grace period, and referees may not relax it. A team commits an offence if it is not: in the change rooms 60 minutes before kick-off available with every player 30 minutes before kick-off for the card inspection on the field 5 minutes before kick-off The only exception is when kick-off is delayed by an earlier match sanctioned by SAFA that the SAFA office knows about. If the match isn't played because a team was late or didn't arrive, that team forfeits the match points and may be charged with misconduct. A vehicle breakdown or not finding the venue is no defence. Your report is conclusive proof of the offence, unless the offending team submits its own report conceding the walkover. Record arrival times and what happened accurately.

Question

Accepted Answer

SAFA Competitions Uniform Rule 28 gives no grace period, and referees may not relax it. A team commits an offence if it is not:

in the change rooms 60 minutes before kick-off
available with every player 30 minutes before kick-off for the card inspection
on the field 5 minutes before kick-off

The only exception is when kick-off is delayed by an earlier match sanctioned by SAFA that the SAFA office knows about.

If the match isn't played because a team was late or didn't arrive, that team forfeits the match points and may be charged with misconduct. A vehicle breakdown or not finding the venue is no defence.

Your report is conclusive proof of the offence, unless the offending team submits its own report conceding the walkover. Record arrival times and what happened accurately.