At its per capsulam meeting held on May 14th, 2008, the Executive Committee (ExCo) of IFF dealt with the withdrawal of the Ukraine Floorball Federation from the Women’s U19 World Floorball Championships 2008, in Poland.

The ExCo noted that the Ukraine Floorball Federation (UFF) has registered for the U19 WFC 2008 which was held in Poland, in due time through its president Mr. Oleksandr Bakanychev, but has, however, not paid the registration fee for the participation at the time due.

The ExCo established with great regret, that the Ukraine Floorball Federation has informed IFF with their letter, dated 30th of April, 2008, to withdraw from the U19 WFC 2008, due to financial problems related to lack of promised governmental support for the championship. The IFF ExCo further established, that the Ukraine decision to withdraw from the U19 WFC 2008 harms the image of Floorball and the IFF and furthermore, created unnecessary problems also for the organiser, the Polish Floorball Federation.

The ExCo discussed the problematic situation, which has occurred through this withdrawal. It disregards the Ukraine federation’s behaviour, first being keen and enthusiastic and then withdraws just over a week before the start of the tournament.

Despite the clear rule violation by the Ukraine Floorball Federation, the ExCo hopes, that the positive development of Floorball still will continue in Ukraine.

The ExCo also took notice of the petition sent by the Ukraine Floorball Federation, in which the Federation asks for understanding for the situation.

The applicable IFF regulations are referred to in the Juridical Regulations Article 8 (enclosed).

After having taken note of the documents the ExCo decided the following:

In accordance with the Juridical regulation, the Ukraine federation will be sanctioned with a fine of CHF 5.000 which includes the participation fee of 2.000 CHF, which the Ukraine Federation yet has to pay to IFF. Furthermore the Ukraine Federation shall not be excluded from the two (2) subsequent official tournaments in view of the further development and progress achieved so far.

The fine is due to be paid within 30 days of the official information, latest on June 14th, 2008

A possible appeal according to the Juridical Regulations, section 2 Article 48, shall be directed to the IFF Appeal Committee in writing.

“Extract from the IFF Juridical Regulations”
Article 8. Sport offences
8. Failure to participate in or organising an official IFF tournament or matches
a) Failure to participate in international tournaments or other events recognised by IFF
b) Any NA or club, after having registered for an official IFF tournament, withdraws after the draw is done and more than sixty (60) full days from the starting date, shall be excluded from the next (1) subsequent official tournament of the same competition and shall be subject to a fine up to CHF 10.000.
c) Should such withdraw occur less than sixty (60) days but more than fifteen (15) days prior to the start of the official IFF tournament, in addition to exclusion as provided for in Article 8, par. 8 b) in these Regulation, the NA or club shall pay a fine up to CHF 15.000.-.
d) Withdrawal occurring during the fifteen days prior to the start of official IFF tournament shall pay a fine up to CHF 20.000.-, shall in addition be excluded from the two (2) subsequent official tournaments of the same competition
e) Withdrawal during an official IFF tournament shall be punished by:
– A fine up to CHF 30.000.-
– Suspension from all official IFF tournaments for two (2) years
– Obligation to reimburse the Organiser and the IFF for the expenses shall borne by the withdrawing delegation and for loss of income and other financial consequences. This shall also be applicable for a withdrawal 15 days prior the start of the tournament.

Section 2  Appeal Committee
Article 48   Contestable decisions
An appeal may be lodged to the Appeal Committee against any sanction passed by the Disciplinary Committee, the Jury or the Central Board, unless the sanction pronounced is:
a warning;
a reprimand;
a suspension for less than three matches or of up to two months;
a fine less than CHF 5,000 imposed on an association or a club.

Initiation of the procedure
Procedures shall be initiated directly by the competent jurisdictional bodies on the basis of:
1. the match record, from the reports of the referees and Jury.
2. Indications given by members of the Central Board, the Confederations, the NA´s and relevant IFF committees and functions.
3. All sanctions being subject to an appeal, has to be according to the following:
a) All sanctions imposed will remain in effect until the relevant decision of the Appeal committee having been made.
b) In case of received a correct appeal the Appeal Committee shall make decision within the 14 full days from receiving the appeal.
c) Persons or team subjected to procedures of discipline may send to the judging body, prior to its meeting, statements setting forth their defence.
d) At meeting called for such specific purpose or at their first subsequent meeting, the jurisdictional bodies shall evaluate the evidence and make their decision.
e) Sanction shall become executive after notification to the party involved.

Eligibility to appeal
1. Anyone who is affected by a decision and has an interest justifying amendment or cancellation of the decision may submit it to the Appeal Committee.
2. Association may appeal against decisions sanctioning their players, officials or members. They shall have the written agreement of the person concerned.

Time limit for appeal
1. The party intending to appeal shall announce his intention in writing within seven full days of communication of the decision.
The appeal shall be sent to the office of IFF within 21 full days from announcement of the first decision.
2. Reasons for the appeal shall then be given in writing, when submitting the appeal within the 21 full days.
3. The announcement of the intention to appeal shall be sent directly to IFF. The petition of appeal shall, however, be forwarded to IFF via the national association.
4. The association receiving the petition of appeal shall forward it immediately to IFF.

Deposit
1. Anyone wishing to lodge an appeal shall transfer the amount of CHF 1,000 to IFF´s bank account before expiry of the time limit of 21 full days from announcement of the first decision.
2. The appeal is inadmissible without this deposit.
3. This amount will be reimbursed to the appellant if he wins the case. Costs of charges payable by an appellant who wins the case are deducted from this amount. Any remaining amount is reimbursed to him. If the deposit is insufficient, the appellant will be ordered to pay the difference.
4. If the appeal is considered to be improper, costs and expenses shall be paid in addition to the deposit.

Effects of the appeal
1. The Appeal Committee has full power in fact and in law to rule the appeal.
2. The appeal does not have suspensive effect except with regard to orders pay a sum of money.

Conclusions of the proceedings
1. The Appeal Committee rules, in principle, as a body in the last instance.
2. The right is reserved for an appeal to be made to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Publication and notification of a decision
When rendering their decisions, the jurisdictional body shall communicate the sanction by registered mail, except in the case of those sanctions imposed during a competition, which shall be delivered by hand to the head of the delegations involved.

With the exception of simple admonitions, sanctions shall be published by the IFF.