15. PROTESTS AND COMPLAINTS

a. i. All questions of eligibility, qualifications of players, or interpretations of the rules shall be referred to the Management Committee. 
ii. Objections relevant to the dimensions of the pitch, goals, flag posts or other facilities of the venue will not be entertained by the Management Committee unless a protest is lodged with the Referee before the commencement of the match. Any Club lodging such a protest with the Referee and not proceeding with it shall be deemed guilty of a breach of this Rule, and shall be dealt with by the Management Committee.

b. Except in cases where the Management Committee decide that there are special circumstances, protests and complaints, which must contain full particulars of the grounds upon which they are founded, must be lodged in DUPLICATE with the General Secretary, within seven days (Sundays not included) of the match or occurrence to which they refer. No protest or complaint shall be withdrawn except by permission of the Management Committee and a Member of the Management Committee, who is a Member of any Club involved shall not be present, (except as a witness or representative of his Club) when such 
protest or complaint is being determined.

c. Any dispute occurring between Clubs in the Competition shall be referred for determination by the Management Committee, whose decision shall be binding upon all parties, subject to Rule 16.

d. No protest of whatever kind may be considered by the Management Committee unless the complaining Club shall have deposited with the General Secretary a sum of £5.00, which may be forfeited in whole or in part in the event of the complaining or protesting Club losing its case, and the Competition shall have the power to order the defaulting Club or the Club making a losing or frivolous protest or complaint to pay the expenses of the enquiry, or to order that the cost be shared by the parties.

e. All parties to a protest or complaint must be afforded an opportunity of making a statement when the protest or complaint is being heard, and must have received seven days notice of the hearing together with a copy of the submission. The Management Committee shall take into consideration when dealing with the protest or complaint, the possession by the protesting or complaining Club of any information which if properly used might have avoided the protest or complaint.