Can players appeal my decisions?
Rule- South Africa
- SA Table Tennis Board
- ITTF Statutes 2026
- Laws of Table Tennis
- Umpires
- Assistant umpires
- All ages
- 2026
- Officials
It depends on the type of decision (ITTF Statutes 2026, regulation 3.3.3):
| Decision | Appeal |
|---|---|
| Question of fact by the responsible match official (e.g. whether a serve was legal, an edge ball) | No appeal to the referee. Where Table Tennis Review (TTR) is in operation, it can be appealed to the TTR official, whose decision is final |
| Interpretation of the Laws or Regulations by a match official | Appeal to the referee, whose decision is final |
| Tournament or match conduct not covered by the Laws or Regulations, decided by the referee | Appeal to the competition management committee, whose decision is final |
- No agreement between players (or team captains) can change a decision by the responsible official.
- In an individual event only a player in the match can appeal; in a team event only the captain of a team in the match.
- Players are under the umpire's jurisdiction from arriving at the playing area until they leave it, and under the referee's from arriving at the venue until they leave it.
- The referee can replace a match official at any time but can't change a decision of fact already made by that official.
Added 22 Oct 2026