Debt Recovery
Herefordshire FA Debt Recovery Scheme
Don't tackle debts alone
One of the services that the Herefordshire FA offers to our affiliated Clubs and Leagues is a debt recovery scheme.
Sadly, every season players (participants) leave Clubs without paying their debts and this can leave Clubs in a precarious position of either being unable to pay their debts or being at risk of folding due to the money owed. When situations like this arise, Clubs can be assured that the Herefordshire FA will be on hand to help.
The FA’s Football Debt Recovery (FDR) scheme is a Clubs’ and/or Leagues’ opportunity to try to recoup money owed by players and Clubs. All affiliated Clubs and Leagues may apply to the Herefordshire FA requesting that a FDR action be initiated against an individual/Club, which may ultimately end with a Sine Die Suspension, for the non-receipt of monies, being imposed against the individual/Club.
A Club or League must pay in advance an Administration Fee of £25.00 per debt which will be requested to be recouped through the FDR scheme. This figure is added to the total debt to be recovered and forms part of the £50.00 minimum limit that may be recouped from the player.
The FDR scheme may also be used in a case where a Club has folded whilst still owing money to the Herefordshire FA - in this instance, the total debt owed will be split amongst the remaining registered Club officials and players.
The FDR Regulations are set nationally by the FA and are published annually within the FA Handbook. A copy of Section 26 of the FA Handbook is provided below for ease of reference and is to be referred to by Clubs and Leagues, when considering submitting an application to use the FDR scheme. In the event of a dispute as to what constitutes a Football Debt, the Herefordshire FA may, in its absolute discretion, determine the matter.
THE FA HANDBOOK - SECTION 26 - FOOTBALL DEBT RECOVERY REGULATIONS
Clubs and Leagues wishing to utilise this Scheme are to submit an application by completing the relevant FDR Scheme Application Form provided below, which can be downloaded here:
FOOTBALL DEBT RECOVERY SCHEME APPLICATION FORM - FOR CLUBS
FOOTBALL DEBT RECOVERY SCHEME APPLICATION FORM - FOR LEAGUES & COMPETITIONS
Clubs and Leagues intending to utilise the FDR Scheme are advised to follow the 5 Stages process below when making an application to this Scheme.
STAGE 1
In the first instance, the Club or League (the alleged Creditor) must take reasonable steps to recover a Football Debt, including the serving of a formal written request to the player or Club (the alleged Debtor) with a complete breakdown of the total debt owed. All formal written requests must provide the Debtor with a date before which payment must be received by the Club or League.
STAGE 2
If payment has not been received by the date stated, the Club or League may request in writing a suspension from football activities against the participant. The Herefordshire FA should be approached within 28 days of formal payment being requested in writing, whilst ensuring that it is within 112 days of the original debt being incurred by the participant.
STAGE 3
All requests for FDR actions must be sent to the Herefordshire FA using the appropriate application form, made available above, and must include the following information about the participant:
- Name, Address, Date of Birth and any other contact details relating to the participant.
- Detailed summary of all monies owed including the dates that the debts occurred.
- Copies of all formal written correspondence sent to the participant requesting payment (mobile text messages will not be accepted as permissible correspondence).
- Details of any other known Clubs which the individual is registered with.
- Finally, a payment of the FDR Administration Fee of £25.00 is to be paid by the Club/League to the Herefordshire FA.
STAGE 4
Once the FDR Application Form has been reviewed, assessed and 'Approved', and confirmation of the £25.00 Administration Fee has been received, the Herefordshire FA will initiate the FDR process. The Suspension notice will be sent to the participant, with a breakdown of the monies owed, including the Administration Fee.
STAGE 5
Either full payment is sent to the Herefordshire FA clearing the outstanding debt, or a request for an Appeal is received from the participant within 21 days from the date the Suspension notice was issued. If neither full payment is received or an Appeal requested then, on the 22nd day following Suspension notice being issued, the participant will be Suspended from 'all football activities' until the total outstanding debt is cleared.
There are strict timelines and criteria under which football debts can be chased, and the Herefordshire FA are unable to deal with any debts that do not conform with the FA's Regulations. It is therefore recommended that Clubs and Leagues familiarise themselves with the procedures involved.Football debts are defined as those costs arising directly from a football activity, and as such would include disciplinary costs (e.g. fines), match costs (e.g. match fees) and playing expenses (e.g. pitch hire).
- Fines from discipline cases (cautions, dismissals, misconduct charges)
- Match fees
The following incidental costs do not fall within the scope of the Football Debt Recovery (FDR) Scheme:
- Kit/Equipment.
- Club subscriptions/Signing on fees/Internal club fines.
- Lottery or any other fund raising schemes.
- End of season trip costs.
- Club Debts.
Get In Touch
If you have any questions regarding the Football Debt Recovery (FDR) Scheme, then please contact the HFA's Football Services Team:
By Phone: 01432 342179 selecting Option 2
(8am - 4pm Monday - Friday)
By E-mail: info@HerefordshireFA.com