Terms and conditions

1.1. PFA Scotland is an independent union, governed by current players to protect and promote the interests of
professional footballers in Scotland.

1.2. PFA Scotland is the only voice of footballers playing in Scotland and recognised by FIFPro, the World Players Union, of which it was one of the founding members.

1.3. PFA Scotland makes no distinction regarding nationality, gender, religion or political ideas. We fight racism, sectarianism, all forms of discrimination, sexism or homophobia, and violence against players.

1.4. PFA Scotland defends the rights and interests of male and female professional footballers who play in Scotland no matter where they are from in the world. We believe in solidarity, equality, respect, transparency, professionalism

1.5. PFA Scotland is truly representative sitting on various committees within the governing bodies to bring the voice of professional footballers to the table.

1.6. PFA Scotland will constantly work to improve the working conditions of professional players under the standard professional contract.

1.7. PFA Scotland will provide each of its members unrivalled and free legal assistance in employment matters, including advice on contracts, employment, sports law and football regulations.

1.8. PFA Scotland encourages its members to train for a second career once the playing side has ended. Using our education fund, we do so by offering education and retraining advice, bespoke courses, grants, employability skills to its members, which meet their needs and expectations.

1.9. PFA Scotland, through numerous operations and events is committed to promoting the image of professional footballers and the game of football in Scotland

1.10. PFA Scotland will only use your image in a collective basis and not use your image on an individual basis without your prior permission.
a. PFA Scotland looks after the welfare of its members and has a bespoke counselling service for any member looking
b. for help with mental health issues.
c. PFA Scotland will endeavour to bring the best bespoke commercial partners as benefits of membership.
d. PFA Scotland will support players who find themselves out of contract with the platform to showcase their skills to
e. find new employment. If unemployed and injured we will assist members’ rehab via our Injury Rehab Fund

This Association is a Trade Union of Professional Football Players. It is called the “Professional Footballers’ Association Scotland” and is hereinafter referred to as the “PFA Scotland”.

The Head Office of the PFA Scotland shall be c/o FL Walker and Co, 2 Woodside Place, Glasgow, G3 7QF or such other place as the Management Committee shall determine from time to time.

The objects of the PFA Scotland shall be:

(1) To promote and protect the interests of Members and former Members and to safeguard their rights.

(2) To provide legal assistance where the PFA Scotland at its absolute discretion deems appropriate in any matter arising out of a Member’s or former Member’s involvement in professional football.

(3) To provide assistance in all aspects of players’ contracts, health, education, pension, disputes, and their efforts in promotion of the sport and their careers, benevolent funds including legal assistance, financial advice where the PFA Scotland at its absolute discretion deems appropriate in any matter arising out of a Member’s or former Member’s involvement in professional football.

(4) To assist Members who are on the transfer list or disengaged or desirous of changing clubs in securing fresh engagements.

(5) To establish and/or administer any funds (whether by way of a charitable trust or trusts or otherwise) for the benefit of Members and former Members or for such other purposes as the PFA Scotland in its absolute discretion deems appropriate.

(6) To enter into financial and commercial ventures through limited companies, LLP’s, partnerships, joint ventures or otherwise.

(7) To negotiate contracts and promote the settlement of disputes between Members and their employers, employer’s associations, the leagues, the Scottish Football Association and other footballing bodies.

(8) To negotiate with and to become affiliated to or associated with societies, associates or other trades unions concerned with matters of interest to the PFA Scotland and/or its Members.

(9) To purchase or by any other means acquire, occupy or take options over any property whatever and any rights and privileges of any kind over and in respect of any property.

(10) To sell, improve, manage, prepare, develop, lease, mortgage, dispose of, turn to account or otherwise deal with all or any part of the property and rights of the PFA Scotland.

(11) To borrow and raise money in any manner and to secure the repayment of any money borrowed raised or owing in such manner as may be determined by the Management Committee.

(12) To indemnify the Members or officers of the PFA Scotland against losses, damages, costs and demands made against them in respect of any authorised acts or omissions done by them in the course of their official duties for the PFA Scotland, to the extent that such indemnity is not prohibited by law.

(13) To do all such things not deemed unlawful as are incidental or conducive to the attainment of the above objects or any of them as the Management Committee consider advisable in the interests of the Members or likely directly or indirectly to benefit the PFA Scotland or any Member of it including the giving of any guarantees, land security or otherwise in respect of the liabilities of any other company, organisation or individual to attain such objectives.

(1) Any full or part-time professional footballer or trainee or apprentice of any club in the Scottish Premier League and Scottish Football Leagues divisions 1-3 (and their successor leagues) is entitled to apply for membership on the standard application form obtainable from the Chief Executive.

(2) Any such application will be considered by the Chief Executive on behalf of the Management Committee and a list of those accepted and/or rejected shall be provided to the Management Committee at its next meeting. Should the Chief Executive be satisfied that to admit an applicant to membership of the PFA Scotland would be prejudicial to the interests of the PFA Scotland he shall have the right to reject the application for membership in which event he shall supply the applicant with written notice of the rejection and the reason therefor.

(3) An applicant whose application has been rejected may within 7 days of service of a notice under sub-rule

(2) above lodge written notice of appeal against such rejection with the Chairman.

(4) The Management Committee shall hear and determine all appeals under sub-rule (3) at their next meeting after receipt of a notice of appeal provided that at least 21 days notice in writing of the date of the hearing shall be given to the applicant. At the hearing of such appeal by the Management Committee the applicant shall be allowed if he so desires to attend before the Management Committee when his appeal is considered and to state his case either personally or through some person nominated by him.

(5) If the application of a candidate is rejected under sub-rule (4) above, the applicant shall be notified of his rejection and of the reasons for his rejection. Despite the rejection, the applicant shall be eligible to reapply for membership by submitting a further application for membership stating any change in circumstances arising since the last application.

(6) A Member’s membership shall cease automatically on that person no longer remaining eligible for membership under sub-rule (1) above.

(7) The membership of a Member shall, subject to sub-rule (8) below, cease upon:
(a) the expiry of notice of resignation given under sub-rule (10) below;
(b) expulsion under rule 7 below;
(c) the Member being in arrears of his annual subscription for a period of 26 weeks subject always to the discretion of the Management Committee.

(8) Notwithstanding sub-rule (7) above, any officer of the PFA Scotland shall continue in membership of the PFA Scotland until the termination of the meeting of the Management Committee next following the happening of the events specified in sub-rule (7) above.

(9) Any notice required to be sent to a Member shall be sent in accordance with the notice provisions in rule 29 below.

(10) A Member may resign from membership of the PFA Scotland on giving one month’s prior written notice to the Chief Executive.

(11) All Members shall abide by the rules of the PFA Scotland during their membership and all liabilities whatsoever of the PFA Scotland in respect of such membership shall cease upon termination thereof.

(1) A Member must pay an annual subscription. Payment methods and dates will be at the discretion of the Management Committee. No Member shall be entitled to such benefits of membership and may not vote at any meeting of the PFA Scotland unless all current subscriptions are fully paid (unless the Management Committee otherwise determines).

(2) The amount of the annual subscription shall be reviewed each year by the Management Committee who, if appropriate, will put proposals before the AGM for decision. Any alteration will come into effect when the Management Committee shall determine.

(3) There may be different classes of membership and subscriptions, as shall be in the sole discretion of the Management Committee to determine.

(4) All new Members must pay the full annual subscription in respect of the current year payable on entry. No new Member will be entitled to the privileges of membership until such annual subscription is paid (unless the Management Committee determines otherwise.)

The Chief Executive shall provide each Member with a copy of these rules and each year a membership card will be supplied.

(1) Disciplinary proceedings shall only be brought against a Member in accordance with the procedure laid down by this rule and only on the ground that the Member is alleged to be guilty of conduct prejudicial to the PFA Scotland or any other Member(s) or conduct likely to bring the name of the PFA Scotland into disrepute.

(2) Any charge must be in writing giving full details of the alleged offence and signed by no less than 2 Members, none of which shall be members of the Management Committee.

(3) The charge must be lodged with the Chief Executive who will send a copy to the Member concerned and invite his written response within 14 days. On receipt of a reply or at the end of the 14 days, whichever is the sooner, the Chief Executive will write to the parties notifying them when the charge will be heard by the Management Committee.

(4) The Member concerned shall be allowed if the Member so desires to attend before the Management Committee when the charge is considered to state the Member’s case either personally or through some person so nominated or to have read out in the Member’s absence a statement submitted by the Member. Furthermore the Member shall be entitled to call witnesses. A representative of the signatories to the charge will have the same rights.

(5) After hearing any relevant evidence and/or representations as each side desire to submit the Management Committee shall either dismiss the charge or if they find it proved:-
(a) reprimand the Member; or
(b) suspend the Member from membership for up to a maximum of 12 months; or
(c) expel the Member from membership.

(6) Within 7 days of the Management Committee’s decision the Chief Executive shall give notice in writing to the Member concerned of the decision.

(7) Any Member against whom the Management Committee decides that a charge has been proved may, if the Member is dissatisfied with the decision and/or the penalty, appeal to the President by giving written notice to the Chief Executive within 14 days of the decision. Upon receipt of such notice the Chief Executive shall call a meeting with the President. Notice of the meeting will be sent to the Member and the Management Committee and the procedure to be adopted at the meeting will be the same, subject to appropriate adjustments, as set out in sub-rule (4) above.

(8) No decision of the Management Committee under this sub-rule shall take effect until the time for an appeal has expired without notification of an appeal being received by the Chief Executive or until the decision and/or the penalty is confirmed or amended on appeal.

(1) Members of the PFA Scotland in each football club shall appoint a Delegate who will be its representative in liaison with the Chief Executive of the PFA Scotland. It shall be the Delegate’s duty to disseminate all information from the PFA Scotland to the Members and to report Members’ problems.

(2) The Delegate is expected to attend all meetings called by the PFA Scotland whether Annual General Meetings (AGM), Extraordinary General Meetings (EGM) or Regional Meetings and when the Delegate so attends the Delegate will be reimbursed his reasonable expenses.

(3) No Member shall be eligible for election as a Delegate if he holds a managerial position, which term means player/manager or player/assistant manager or player/coach or any other position which in any way could conflict with the proper performance of his duties.

(4) If the Delegate is appointed to a managerial position, the Delegate shall automatically lose his office as a Delegate, and the Members at that football club shall appointment his replacement.

(1) The management of the PFA Scotland shall be conducted by the Management Committee who shall have full powers for carrying on the management of the PFA Scotland in every respect.

(2) The Management Committee shall consist of minimum of three members and a maximum of 10 members, or such other numbers of members as the Management Committee shall deem appropriate.
(3) Membership of the Management Committee shall be by election of the Members by ballot and will last for 5 years before seeking re-election.

(4) No member of the Management Committee shall be eligible for election or re-election if the member holds a managerial position, which term means player/manager or player/assistant manager or player/coach or any other position which in any way could conflict with the proper performance of duties.

(5) In the event of death, resignation or expulsion of any member of the Management Committee the remaining members may co-opt a temporary successor until the position is filled by a ballot of the Members. Such co-opted successor shall have no right to vote at any Management Committee meetings.

(6) A member of the Management Committee shall only be entitled to apply for re-election if he has attended at least 60% of meetings held during his term of office.

(7) If a member of the Management Committee is appointed to a managerial position, as defined in sub-rule (4) above, he shall automatically lose his office as a member of the Management Committee.

(8) If a member of the Management Committee shall fail to attend 3 Management Committee meetings in any 12 month period then the Management Committee may have the power to remove the member of the Management Committee from office.

(9) Members of the Management Committee shall be entitled to receive reimbursement of all reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.

(10) A member of the Management Committee may only be removed by the Delegates or Members at an AGM or EGM, subject to sub-rules (7) and (8) above. Any member of the Management Committee may be suspended by a majority decision of the remaining members of the Management Committee until the matter can be considered by the Delegates or Members.

(11) All acts bona fide done by any meeting of the Management Committee or any person acting as a member of the Management Committee shall be valid notwithstanding that it be afterwards discovered that there was some defect in the appointment of the Management Committee or of any member of the Management Committee.

(12) A resolution in writing signed by all the members of the Management Committee for the time being entitled to receive notice of the meeting of the Management Committee shall be as valid and effective as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Management Committee duly convened and held.

(1) To conduct the affairs of the PFA Scotland in furtherance of its objects.

(2) To make such bye-laws and regulations as they may consider necessary for the well-being of the PFA Scotland.

(3) To appoint and remove the Chairman, Treasurer and President and any assistants thereto and to set their duties, remuneration and terms of service and in the absence of the Chairman to appoint one of their number to act in his stead.

(4) To appoint and remove Solicitors, Bankers, Insurance Brokers, Auditors or Accountants and such other agents as are deemed necessary.

(5) To examine and pass all accounts and authorise all payments.

(6) To administer the various funds of the PFA Scotland

(7) To invest the assets of the PFA Scotland in the purchase of such stocks, funds, shares, securities or other investments of whatsoever nature and wheresoever and whether involving liability or not or upon such personal credit with or without security as they shall in their absolute discretion think fit.

(8) To form subsidiary companies and to appoint and remove
(i) any director of any company owned or partly owned by the PFA Scotland and
(ii) any trustees to any organisation or body with which the PFA Scotland is associated.

(9) To appoint a sub-committee or sub-committees to investigate any special or urgent business and thereafter to make recommendations to the Management Committee.

(10) To cause records to be kept of:
(a) the appointment, removal and resignation of officers of the Management Committee;
(b) the names of members present at each meeting of the Management Committee; and
(c) all orders resolutions and proceedings of AGM’s, EGM’s, Regional Meetings and meetings of the Management Committee and sub-committees.

(1) The business of the Management Committee shall be conducted in formal meetings. The Chief Executive, the Chairman or any 2 members of the Management Committee may cause a meeting of the Management Committee to be convened. Notice of any meeting of the Management Committee shall be sent by the Chief Executive to every member of the Management Committee upon at least 7 clear days’ notice or such shorter notice as may subsequently be accepted by all the members of the Management Committee entitled to attend and vote. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of notice by any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

(2) The Management Committee will meet at least 4 times in each calendar year, one of which will be held in conjunction with the AGM and may adjourn or otherwise regulate its meetings as the members of the Management Committee shall think fit.

(3) The quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall be 50% of the members of the Management Committee entitled to attend and vote.

(4) Questions arising at a Management Committee meeting shall be decided by a majority of votes cast and the Chairman shall have a casting vote in the event of a tie in the voting.

(5) No member of the Management Committee shall be entitled to appoint a proxy to vote in his stead at any meeting of the Management Committee.

(1) The Management Committee may appoint a member of the Management Committee as Chairman.

(2) The Chairman shall have authority to act and to transact business in the name of the PFA Scotland between meetings of the Management Committee provided that:
(a) the Chairman’s powers under this rule shall not arise unless it is not reasonably practicable to defer consideration of the action or transaction in question to the next meeting of the Management Committee;
(b) any action or transaction done by or entered into by the Chairman pursuant to this rule shall be subject to ratification by the Management Committee at its meeting next following the action or transaction; and
(c) the Chairman shall not have authority to authorise or endorse the taking of any strike or other industrial action in any event.

(3) The Chairman shall vacate office upon ceasing to be a member of the Management Committee for whatever reason.

(1) The Management Committee may appoint a Treasurer.

(2) Any Treasurer shall be entitled to speak at all meetings of the Management Committee and of its sub-committees, but shall not be entitled to vote.

(3) Any Treasurer shall perform all such duties as shall be required of him by the Management Committee or under these Rules including:
(a) keeping proper accounts and records of all receipts and payments as are required by the Management Committee and to the satisfaction of the Auditors of the PFA Scotland; and
(b) making such accounts and records available to the Auditors for the purpose of the preparation of the Annual Balance Sheet and Income and Expenditure Account for the PFA Scotland for the AGM.

(1) The Chief Executive shall be responsible to the PFA Scotland for the supervision and control of the administration of the PFA Scotland and of its officers and staff.

(2) The Chief Executive’s duty shall be:
(a) to convene and attend all AGM’s, any EGM’s, meetings of the Management Committee and of its sub-committees, but with power to appoint a member of the Management Committee or another employee of the PFA Scotland as his deputy so to attend;
(b) to arrange for minutes of all AGM’s, EGM’s, meetings of the Management Committee and its sub-committees to be taken;
(c) to supervise the general accounts of the PFA Scotland and if so authorised to counter-sign cheques in settlement of accounts presented to the Chief Executive;
(d) to arrange for the conduct of the PFA Scotland correspondence including the preservation of all documents, books and papers received by the Chief Executive and for the preparation of memoranda, circulars, rules, membership cards and other documents as required for issue as necessary to the Members and to others;
(e) to maintain a register of Members;
(f) to maintain adequate organising and publicity arrangements;
(g) to supervise the preparation of the agenda for AGM’s and EGM’s and the preparation of adequate reports to the AGM of the business conducted on behalf of the PFA Scotland since the previous AGM including therein audited statements of account of the PFA Scotland’s funds;
(h) to engage such staff as may be necessary to conduct the work of the PFA Scotland and report individual appointments to the Management Committee;
(i) to uphold and propagate the policies and actions of the PFA Scotland as propounded by any AGM or EGM or by the Management Committee from time to time;
(j) to perform all such other duties as shall be required of him by the Management Committee or under these rules or by law; and
(k) to fulfil the role of Treasurer, if none is appointed by the Management Committee.

(3) The Chief Executive shall be appointed by the Management Committee upon such terms and at such remuneration as it may determine. The Chief Executive does not have to be a Member of the PFA Scotland.

(4) All staff engaged by the Chief Executive shall be engaged as employees of the PFA Scotland and shall be engaged upon such terms and at such remuneration as the Chief Executive, acting at the direction of the Management Committee, may determine.

(5) The Chief Executive shall be entitled to attend and speak at all meetings of the Management Committee and of its sub-committees but shall not be entitled to vote or be counted in the quorum.

(1) The President does not have to be a Member of the PFA Scotland.

(2) The President shall be entitled to attend all meetings of the Management Committee as an ex-officio member but shall not be counted in a quorum or be entitled to vote at such meetings.

(3) The President shall be elected and removed by the members of the Management Committee.

(4) The duties of the President shall be:
(a) to hear disciplinary appeals of members in accordance with rule 7 above;
(b) to appoint an arbitrator in accordance with rule 24 below.

(5) The President may undertake consultancy services for the PFA Scotland, upon such terms and at such rates as determined by the Management Committee.

(1) There shall be no more than four Trustees of the PFA Scotland who shall be elected and removable by a two-thirds majority of votes at an AGM or EGM. A person appointed Trustee need not be a Member of the PFA Scotland. The Trustees shall hold office until death or resignation or until removed from office by resolution of an AGM or EGM. In the event of a casual vacancy occurring for whatever reason, the Management Committee shall appoint a Trustee to fill that vacancy at the next following Management Committee Meeting to hold office until the next AGM.

(2) The Property of the PFA Scotland

(other than cash, which shall be under the control of the Treasurer) shall be vested in the Trustees or if the Management Committee so resolves in a limited company, or llp the shareholding or membership of which shall be in the names of the Trustees.

(3) The duties of the Trustees shall be:
(a) as directed by the Management Committee by resolution

(of which an entry in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence), to invest, safeguard and keep all funds and property of the PFA Scotland received by them in such manner as may, from time to time be authorised by Act of Parliament for the investment of trust funds;

(b) to examine all accounts submitted for payment;

(c) as and when required by the Management Committee to direct a bank, at which all cash not immediately required by the PFA Scotland is placed in an account, to honour not less than any 2 of the joint signatures of the persons

(not being any of the Trustees), named in the direction;

(d) to defray from the funds of the PFA Scotland the expenditure incurred by the Management Committee and Chief Executive and such expenditure as may from time to time be authorised by the Chief Executive or the Management Committee; and

(e) to make payments out of the funds of the PFA Scotland of all and any premiums on any insurance policy or fidelity guarantee taken out by the Management Committee upon Members handling the funds of the PFA Scotland.

(4) The Trustees shall have authority to enter into such transactions and to execute such documents as may be necessary for the proper management and investment of the funds of the PFA Scotland and, acting on the direction of the Management Committee, shall have the power to borrow money on security or otherwise and to dispose of any assets of the PFA Scotland.

(5) The Trustees shall be authorised to take such professional advice as they shall deem necessary, from time to time, to ensure the proper investment and management of the funds of the PFA Scotland and to defray any expense of taking such advice out of the funds of the PFA Scotland.

(6) The Trustees shall be relieved from all liability in respect of payments made in the nature authorised by a direction of the Management Committee while it is in force and shall be indemnified against risk and expense out of the property of the PFA Scotland.

(7) The business of the Trustees shall be conducted in formal meetings. The Chief Executive, the Chairman or any 2 Trustees may cause a meeting of the Trustees to be convened. Notice of any such meeting shall be sent by the Chief Executive to every Trustee and the Chairman upon at least 7 clear days notice or such shorter notice as may subsequently be accepted by all the Trustees. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or non-receipt of notice by a Trustee shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting. The quorum necessary for the transaction of business shall be two Trustees. Questions arising at such meetings shall be decided by a majority of votes and the Chairman shall only vote in the event of a tie in the voting.

(8) Nothing herein shall prevent the Chief Executive or the Chairman or any other member of the Management Committee or other executive officer of the PFA Scotland from being a Trustee.

(1) The PFA Scotland shall hold an AGM at which all Members shall be entitled to attend and vote. Any Member may appoint his Delegate as elected pursuant to rule 8 above to act as his proxy and vote on his behalf at any AGM. The AGM shall constitute the main policy-making body within the PFA Scotland. The business of the AGM shall be:-

(a) to receive a report of progress and the financial position of the PFA Scotland;

(b) to consider any alteration of the rules due notice having been given;

(c) to elect and remove Trustees and the Auditors/Accountants;

(d) to receive a report on any ballot for the positions of Chief Executive and/or membership of the Management Committee;

(e) to consider any representations made; and

(f) any other business.

(2) Not more than 20 months shall elapse between the date of one AGM and that of the next but, subject to the above, the AGM shall be held at such place as the Management Committee shall appoint.

(3) In addition to the AGM the Management Committee may at any time convene an EGM and must convene an EGM if requisitioned to do so, in writing, for a stated purpose by at least 10 percent of the Members in person or through their Delegates being within 2 months of receipt by the Chief Executive of such requisition. Any Member may appoint his Delegate, as elected pursuant to rule 8 above to act as his proxy and vote on his behalf at any EGM.

(5) An EGM shall be convened by the giving of, at least 7 days’ notice. Such notice shall be in writing from the Chief Executive to every Member in accordance with the notice provisions at rule 29. Such notice shall specify the place, day and the hour of the meeting and in the case of a Special Meeting, the general nature of the business of that meeting.

(6) An AGM or EGM shall notwithstanding that it is called by shorter notice than that specified in sub-rule

(5) above be deemed to have been duly called if it is so agreed:

(a) in the case of a meeting called as the AGM by all the Delegates entitled to attend and vote at it;

(b) in the case of an EGM by 90% in number of the Members in person or through their Delegates having a right to attend and vote at the meeting.

(7) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to or the non-receipt of notice of a meeting by any person entitled to receive notice shall not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.

(8) No business shall be transacted at any AGM or EGM unless a quorum of Delegates or Members is present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business and:

(a) save as otherwise provided in these rules in the case of an AGM or an EGM is no less than 12 Delegates or 30% of the total Members in person or through their Delegates shall be a quorum;

(b) if within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present the meeting shall stand adjourned to such other day time and place as the Management Committee may determine and if at the adjourned meeting a quorum is not present within half an hour from the time appointed for the meeting the Delegates or Members present shall be a quorum.

(9) The Chairman of the PFA Scotland shall preside as Chairman at an AGM or EGM but if the Chairman shall not be present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for the holding of the meeting or wishes to stand down on a particular issue one of the Management Committee shall act as Chairman of the meeting and failing that the Members present shall elect a Chairman of the meeting.

(10) The Chairman may with the consent of any meeting at which a quorum is present

(and shall if so directed by the meeting) adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place and if a meeting is adjourned for 4 days or more notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting but no other notice shall be necessary for an adjournment or of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting.

(11) The business of an AGM shall be conducted in accordance with these rules provided always that:

(a) a resolution put to the vote of the AGM shall be decided on a show of hands of the Delegates unless a secret ballot is demanded by law or by not less than 30% of Members present in person or through their Delegates having the right to vote at the meeting;

(b) unless a secret ballot be so demanded declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has on a show of hands been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or lost on entry to that effect in the minutes shall be conclusive evidence of the fact;

(d) the demand for a secret ballot may be withdrawn;

(e) if a secret ballot is duly demanded it shall be taken in such manner as the Chairman directs and its result shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which it was demanded;

(f) in the case of an equality of votes whether on a show of hands or on a secret ballot the Chairman shall be entitled only to a casting vote;

(g) at any AGM no proposition may be debated unless either the proposition has been notified to the Chief Executive in accordance with sub-rule

(12) below or the proposition is in writing and it is agreed by at least two-thirds of those present and voting at the AGM to admit the proposition for debate and a vote. In such an instance a Delegate cannot act as a proxy for his Members not present. No emergency propositions may be admitted at an EGM;

(h) on a secret ballot votes may be given either personally or by proxy. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing, executed by the Member in a form acceptable to the Management Committee.

(12) Prior to the day appointed for the commencement of the AGM the following procedure shall apply:

(a) the Management Committee shall publish its intention to provide the Members through the Delegates with its report and statement of accounts for the year at the AGM;

(b) any Member desiring to put any proposition before the AGM shall notify the Chief Executive in writing not less that 3 weeks before of such proposition. Each proposition shall deal with one subject;

(c) the Management Committee shall provide Members through the Delegates with an agenda of the AGM not less than 2 weeks before the date fixed for the commencement of the AGM together with any proposed amendments to the rules.

(13) Prior to any AGM or EGM any Member wishing to propose any amendment to any proposition set out in the agenda of any AGM or EGM shall if possible give notice in writing of the proposed amendment to the Management Committee not less than 1 week before the date fixed for the commencement of the AGM or EGM.

(14) No proposition shall be debated by the PFA Scotland in an AGM or EGM unless it is seconded by another Member.

(15) Any Delegate or Member attending an AGM or EGM who conducts himself in a disorderly manner may be expelled from the meeting upon a majority of votes of those attending the meeting and entitled to vote. In such an instance a Delegate cannot act as a proxy for his Members not present.

(16) The Chief Executive shall have power to convene a Regional Meeting of the Delegates and/or Members giving 7 clear days’ notice to the appropriate Delegates or Members. There shall be no fixed quorums for such meetings.

(1) The Chief Executive acting in association with any Treasurer shall ensure that proper books of account are kept setting out:

(a) all sums of money received and expended by the PFA Scotland and the matters in respect of which the receipt and expenditure takes place;

(b) all sales and purchases of goods and services by the PFA Scotland;

(c) the assets and liabilities of the PFA Scotland; and

(d) all such other matters as, according to good accountancy practice, should be set out in the books of accounts.

(2) Any Treasurer shall further perform all such duties as shall be required of him by the Management Committee or under these rules or by law.

(3) Proper books shall not be deemed to be kept if there are not kept such books of accounts as are necessary to give a true and fair view of the state of the PFA Scotland’s affairs and to explain its transactions.

(4) The books of accounts shall be kept at the head office of the PFA Scotland and should be open to inspection:

(a) by members of the Management Committee;

(b) by any Member who wishes to inspect the accounts of the PFA Scotland provided the Member gives 7 days’ notice, in writing, to the Chief Executive of the Member’s wish and indicates so far as the Member can the reason for and the object of the Member’s request.

(5) For the purposes of allowing inspection as provided for in sub-rule

(4) above, the register of Members and Members’ addresses shall be deemed to be a book of account.

(6) Upon completion of the annual accounts the Chief Executive shall:

(a) cause the accounts to be published in any journal produced by the PFA Scotland any such publication to be made not less than 2 weeks before the AGM of the PFA Scotland next following; and

(b) cause to be sent to the Certification Officer an annual return as required by the Trade Union and Labour Relations

(Consolidation) Act 1992, or any subsequent legislation.

(1) The following officers of the PFA Scotland shall be elected to the office to which they hold:

(a) the Chief Executive;

(b) the members of the Management Committee, not including the title of Chairman or Treasurer.

(2) Any person elected a member of the Management Committee shall take up office for the period commencing with the termination of the AGM or EGM at which their success in the ballot is announced and terminating at the termination of the fifth AGM next following, unless re-appointed following successful candidature in a second or subsequent election.

(3) A Member shall only be eligible to stand in the election of the Management Committee if nominated by another Member and seconded by a further Member.

(4) The procedure for an election shall be in accordance with sub-rules

(5) and

(6) below and the PFA Scotland’s rules for the conduct of postal ballots set out at Annex “A” to these rules which comprises part of these rules.

(5) In the case of the election of the members of the Management Committee or for the position of Chief Executive, not less than 3 months before the date fixed for the AGM next following, and in any other election under these rules, as and when appropriate the Management Committee shall draw up and publish to all Members a time-table:

(a) for seeking and receiving nominations;

(b) for checking and approving nominations by the Management Committee;

(c) for the compilation and circulation of election addresses;

(d) for the printing, distribution and return of voting papers;

(e) for the counting of voting papers and for the declaration of the result; and

(f) for the receipt and resolution of any complaints alleging breach of the election procedure.

(6) Nominations shall be made in writing and shall be signed by the candidate and by the nominator and seconder and, in the case of a nomination by the Management Committee, by the Chairman and one other member of the Management Committee. The completed nomination shall be sent to the Chief Executive

(or the President in the case of nominations for the position of Chief Executive) at the head office and shall thereafter be checked and approved by the Management Committee or the Chief Executive on its behalf. The Chairman shall draw up a list of the properly nominated candidates.

(7) If, having received all nominations, the election or re-election of the Chief Executive or for membership of the Management Committee is uncontested, then the Chairman shall dispense with the need for a ballot and declare the result of the election at the AGM.

The Management Committee shall maintain a General Fund for the support of all the financial requirements of the PFA Scotland except those specifically otherwise provided for in these Rules.

(1) The Management Committee shall either maintain the Benevolent Fund for the financial relief of Members, ex-Members and dependants or create a successor fund.

(2) Any person wishing to apply for a grant on the grounds of hardship must apply in writing to the Chief Executive on the appropriate form giving full details of his or her financial circumstances. The Management Committee shall in its absolute discretion decide whether or not to make a grant. Such a grant is subject to the maximum capital sum or annuity allowed by the Inland Revenue to be paid free of tax to a member from time to time.

(1) The Management Committee shall either maintain the Educational Fund for the benefit of Members or former members in the furtherance of their education or create a successor fund.

(2) The Management Committee shall be empowered to effect such payments as it shall in its absolute discretion deem necessary in and for the benefit of its Members and former members in the furtherance of their education.

(3) Any Member or former member may apply in writing to the Chief Executive for assistance in relation to grants through the Educational Fund. Any such payments will be at the absolute discretion of the Management Committee and subject to the maximum capital sum or annuity allowed by the Inland Revenue to be paid free of tax to a member from time to time.

The accounts of the PFA Scotland shall be audited annually immediately prior to the AGM by the Auditors of the PFA Scotland as may be required by statute. The Delegates in the AGM shall have power to appoint and remove the Auditors on two-thirds of the Delegates present and eligible to vote for a resolution for such appointment or removal or, in the case of a ballot, if at least two-thirds of the votes cast are for the resolution.

Any dispute arising between any Member and the PFA Scotland shall be referred to the decision of an independent arbitrator to be mutually agreed upon. In the event of such agreement being impossible, the President shall appoint an arbitrator whose decision shall be final.

(1) These rules including the name of the PFA Scotland, may be amended or added to at an AGM or EGM.

(2) Any amendment or addition may be proposed by either the Management Committee or any Member providing he is supported in writing by no less than 5 Members. Any such proposal shall be set out in writing and addressed to the Chief Executive and must state:

(a) the wording of the rule to be amended as it stands before amendment;

(b) the words proposed to be added to or deleted from the rules; and

(c) the proposed wording of the rule following the alteration proposed.

(3) On receipt of the proposal the Chief Executive shall either place the matter on the agenda for the next AGM or convene an EGM, at the discretion of the Chairman.

(4) Any such amendment or addition will only be passed if supported by two-thirds of the Delegates or Members present and eligible to vote, such amendment or addition to take immediate effect.

(5) The Chief Executive shall supply any Member of the PFA Scotland with a copy of these rules upon request free of charge.

The PFA Scotland may amalgamate or affiliate with any other union or unions of employees and/or workers if so determined, or may affect a transfer of engagements to or from any other trade union under the provisions of the statutes regulating such amalgamations and transfers from time to time in force.

The PFA Scotland may not be dissolved except by approval of a proposition to that effect by a postal ballot of all Members. A proposition to dissolve the PFA Scotland shall not be deemed to be approved unless the proposition is approved by five-sixths of those Members voting. After discharging all debts and other liabilities legally incurred such funds as remain under the control of the PFA Scotland shall be distributed to any success or body or if none such charities following the objects of the PFA Scotland, as closely as possible and as the Management Committee shall determine, in accordance with a resolution passed by a simple majority.

Except as specifically provided for by these rules, or by agreement made, no person, whether an officer or Member shall be entitled to any remuneration for any services rendered to or on behalf of the PFA Scotland provided always that the Management Committee may make provision for Members to be reimbursed reasonable expenses reasonably incurred on the basis of the PFA Scotland.

(1) Any dispute regarding the interpretation of these rules or arising in a matter where these rules are silent shall be referred to the Management Committee and its decision upon any matter of interpretation shall be final.

(2) Words importing the masculine gender shall include the feminine and the neuter and words importing the singular number the plural and vice versa.

(3) The following words shall have the following meanings:-
“Benevolent Fund” shall mean the fund established by a Deed of Trust dated 24th March 1977 between the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Football League with Scottish Professional Footballers’ Association; and
“Education Fund” shall mean the fund established by a Deed of Trust between the Scottish Football Association and Scottish Football League with Scottish Professional Footballers’ Association

(1) Notices to be given under these rules shall be sent by prepaid first class mail or delivered by the relevant party to the other and shall be deemed to be served, if posted, the day after posting and, if personally delivered, at the time of delivery or via email using the appropriate email address and notice will be deemed received when an email is received

(or else on the next business day if it is received on a weekend or a public holiday in the place of receipt).

(2) Notices shall be deemed to be served if served on any Member pursuant to paragraph

(1) if sent to either the Member’s home address or the club at which the Player is currently registered. It shall be the duty of every Member to inform the Chief Executive if the Member shall change address.

B) WEBSITE, DATA PROTECTION AND DIGITAL MEMBERSHIP CARD

1. By applying for a PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card, you warrant that you are legally capable of entering into binding contracts and you are at least 16 years old. PFA Scotland reserves the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time by giving you notice by posting the amended terms and conditions on our site.

2. When you sign up to PFA Scotland as a member you will be directed to the digital membership card in order to complete your membership. Once completed your digital membership and you will be asked to upload your image, personal details for a card to enter into your smartphone wallet.

3. When you apply for your digital membership card you will be required to follow instructions regarding the set up and application of the digital membership and will be required to have the relevant app downloaded on your phone.

4. The PFA Scotland digital membership card is a free set up for members.

5. Your PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card will be valid in line with the rules on membership above. Assuming your subscription renews, the expiry date on your digital card will update automatically.

6. By registering for the PFA Digital Membership Card You will be asked to provide certain personal information, including your name, mobile phone number, email address and date of birth. We are committed to maintaining the security of your personal information in accordance with the requirements of the Data Protection Act 1998

(and any other applicable data protection laws) and will take all reasonable steps to ensure that your personal data is kept secure against unauthorised access, loss, disclosure or destruction.

7. You grant non-exclusive authorisation to PFA Scotland to use your image on a collective basis to promote the activities of PFA Scotland.

8. The PFA Scotland Privacy Policy will apply whenever you provide us with personal information and is incorporated by reference into the Terms. Except as required by law, or in accordance with the Terms and the Privacy Policy, your personal information will not be passed to any other person without your permission.

9. You have the right to cancel your PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card at any time. Discounts and offers will be applicable until the end date of the paid subscription.

10. PFA Scotland reserves the right to alter or amend the conditions of operation of the scheme at any time without notice and also to

11. The PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card is to be used by the member only

12. Your PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card is strictly non-transferable and so cannot be used by either friends, family members or other third parties.

13. To qualify for the discounts stated on the website, the card must be presented to the relevant vendor. This can be in person or online, via screenshot. If a discount code is required, enter the code and immediately send a screenshot of your Card to the vendor to verify your membership.

14. Please check the terms and conditions of the particular offer and vendor you are interested in before making a purchase.

15. Where a vendor requires you to pre-book

(e.g classes, activities, days out) you should state at the time of booking that you intend to use your PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card.

16. In all other circumstances, you must inform the vendor that you intend to use your PFA Scotland Digital Membership prior to purchase. Once a product or service has been paid for, the discount or offer cannot be applied retrospectively. If a discount code is required, enter this and then present your card online or via text.

17. PFA Scotland reserves the right to take any appropriate action deemed necessary where it is found the cardholder has used the card in breach of these terms and conditions.

18. PFA Scotland are not responsible for any complaints or issues with the individual businesses offering discounts, these must be brought up with the businesses themselves. If a vendor refuses to provide the discount for any reason PFA Scotland will not be held liable and will not issue any refunds.

19. Refunds will not be issued if you have problems with the service you receive from our business partners, this must be put in writing to the business concerned who will deal with it according to their own policies.

20. If you have any issues or complaints regarding PFA Scotland business partners you agree to inform PFA Scotland.

21. Discounts will not be redeemed for cash.

22. PFA Scotland will use reasonable endeavour to notify participants one month before expiry date although we have no obligation to do so.

23. PFA Scotland may, at our sole discretion, refuse to issue a Card and may withdraw a Card from a participant at any time.

24. PFA Scotland will not be responsible for any indirect losses, consequential, exemplary, special or punitive damages, lost opportunities, loss of profits, anticipated profits, actual or anticipated savings.

25. PFA Scotland does not limit its liability at law for fraudulent misrepresentation or for death or personal injury caused by negligence or any other type of liability which cannot by law be excluded or limited.

26. The Terms shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales and shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Scotland.

27. After applying for a PFA Scotland Digital Membership Card you will receive an e-mail acknowledging that we have received your application. Please note that this does not mean that your application has been accepted. Your application can be assumed to have been successful on activation of your digital membership card.

28. All orders are subject to acceptance by us and we may retract acceptance at any point.

29. PFA Scotland Digital Membership Cards are valid up to and including the expiry date on the digital card. The expiry date of each card will vary and will always be checked.

30. To cancel your membership, please email hello@lancslocal.co.uk. Upon cancellation you will receive a confirmation email; it is recommended that this is kept for your own personal records.

31. Free or discounted memberships: If you sign up for a free or discounted membership and you no longer wish to continue to be a member at the end of the term, you must cancel your membership at least 10 days before the expiry of the free term. Renewals are automatic and if you do not cancel your membership you will be automatically charged for the following 12 month subscription at the current full price..

32. Please check the terms and conditions and privacy policy of the digital membership app as they may differ to those of PFA Scotland. You accept all responsibility for use of your details as gathered by third party apps.

33. On presentation of your PFA Scotland Digital Membership card to relevant business partners, they will apply the discount to your bill/receipt/invoice. Please check the digital membership card and individual business partners for terms and conditions applied to each individual offer and verify these with the retailer.

34. Participating businesses may exclude certain days, particular products or services or members of staff. Please check any exclusions before purchase.

35. Offers advertised on our site are only available to members who present a valid membership card to PFA Scotland business partners. Such offers are not available in conjunction with any other offers that participating businesses may be running. All offers are subject to availability and all partners reserve the right to refuse the sale of a product or service.

36. All offers on our website are assumed by us to be correct. It is the PFA Scotland members’ responsibility to double check that the offer is still available at the time of purchase. We will use reasonable endeavours to update our site to show the particulars of participating business and the terms of their availability for participation in the club. Participating businesses may, however, be entitled to withdraw from the club or to change the terms and conditions of their availability after you have become a member and we shall have no liability for any such withdrawals or changes in terms and conditions or availability.

37. All partners reserve the right to refuse the sale of a product or a service. All offers are subject to availability.

38. We will not be liable for losses that result from our failure to comply with these terms and conditions that fall into the following categories:

• loss of income or revenue;
• loss of business;
• loss of profits; or
• loss of anticipated savings.

39. Nothing in this agreement excludes or limits our liability for:

• death or personal injury caused by our negligence;
• fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation;
• any breach of the obligations implied by section 12 of the Sale of Goods Act 1979 or section 2 of the Supply of Goods and Services Act 1982; or
• any other matter for which it would be illegal for us to exclude or attempt to exclude our liability.

Where you purchase an item from any participating business, any losses or liability arising out of, or in connection with, such item shall be the relevant participating businesses liability. We accept no liability for any bad experiences or bad items purchased at any of the participating businesses. We will not become involved in any dispute between you and any business.

1. We do not give any warranty for any goods or services accessed through, or displayed on, our site.

2. Applicable laws require that some of the information or communications we send to you should be in writing. When using our site, you accept that communication with us will be mainly electronic. We will contact you by e-mail or provide you with information by posting notices on our website. For contractual purposes, you agree to this electronic means of communication and you acknowledge that all contracts, notices, information and other communications that we provide to you electronically comply with any legal requirement that such communications be in writing. This condition does not affect your statutory rights.

3. Failure by us to enforce any of these terms and conditions will not prevent us from subsequently relying on or enforcing them.

4. If any court or competent authority decides that any of the provisions of these terms and conditions are invalid, unlawful or unenforceable to any extent, the term will, to that extent only, be severed from the remaining terms, which will continue to be valid to the fullest extent permitted by law.

5. A person who is not party to these terms and conditions shall not have any rights under or in connection with it under the Contracts

(Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

6. These terms and conditions and any document expressly referred to in them constitute the whole agreement between us and supersede all previous discussions, correspondence, negotiations, previous arrangement, understanding or agreement between us relating to the subject matter of these terms and conditions. We each acknowledge that, in entering into these terms and conditions, neither of us relies on, or will have any remedies in respect of, any representation or warranty

(whether made innocently or negligently) that is not set out in these terms and conditions or the documents referred to in them. Nothing in this clause limits or excludes any liability for fraud.

7. This agreement shall be interpreted in accordance with the Scottish Courts.

D. Website Disclaimer and Terms and Conditions of Use

These are PFA Scotland’s Conditions of Website Use. PFA Scotland websites are maintained for the personal use and viewing of users. Access to and use of our website is subject to the following Terms and Conditions.

1. Rights Granted and Main Restrictions1.1 The access and use of any PFA Scotland website featuring these Terms and Conditions constitutes the user’s acceptance of these Terms and Conditions which take effect from the date from which each user first uses our website.

1.2 All rights, including copyright, in the content of PFA Scotland web pages are owned or controlled for these purposes by PFA Scotland. Users may download printed copies of the material displayed on an PFA Scotland website for personal use only; provided that each user retains all copyright and trade mark notices and other proprietary notices contained on or in relation to the materials included on that PFA Scotland website. Users may not print, copy, reproduce, download, republish, broadcast, transmit, display, modify or re-use the materials from a PFA Scotland website for any other purpose, including in particular any purpose which publicly re-sells or re-uses the materials.

1.3 The trade marks, word marks, logos, names and images displayed on PFA Scotland websites are the registered or unregistered trade marks of PFA Scotland and others. Nothing on an PFA Scotland website should be taken as conferring by implication, estoppel or otherwise any licence or right to use any of the aforementioned marks displayed on such website without the prior written approval of PFA Scotland or such third party as may own the relevant mark.

2. Disclaimer2.1 PFA Scotland websites and the content, names, text and images included on them are provided ‘as is’. While reasonable care has been taken in the preparation of such websites to ensure that the information contained on it is accurate, no warranty or representation of satisfactory quality or fitness for a particular purpose, non-infringement of title, whether express or implied, is given, nor is any warranty or representation given that the information and materials contained on such websites are free from errors or inaccuracy.

2.2 Our websites contain guidance and notes on certain aspects of law as they might affect the average person. They are intended only as broad guidance and are by no means definitive. The law is constantly changing, thus expert advice should always be sought.

2.3 To the extent permitted by applicable laws, no liability is accepted for any direct, indirect or consequential loss or damage resulting from the access to and use of PFA Scotland websites and the information and materials contained on them.

2.4 Links contained within PFA Scotland websites may lead to websites not under the control of PFA Scotland and PFA Scotland is not responsible for the contents of any linked site or any link contained in a linked site. Links provided on PFA Scotland websites are provided to users only as a convenience and the inclusion of any link does not imply endorsement by PFA Scotland of, and PFA Scotland accepts no liability in respect of the content of any such linked site. Users link to any linked sites at their own risk.

3. LinkingUsers shall not be entitled

(nor shall they assist others) to set up links from their own websites to any PFA Scotland website

(whether by hypertext linking, deep-linking, framing, tagging or otherwise) without the prior written consent of PFA Scotland. The consent of PFA Scotland is at its absolute discretion, and without providing a reason, may grant or withhold.

4. Supply of Information4.1 Any communication or information

(apart from payment transaction information, including credit card particulars) transmitted by a user to a PFA Scotland website by email or otherwise will be treated as non-proprietary and non-confidential. Anything transmitted by any user may be used by PFA Scotland or its affiliates for any purpose, including, without limitation, broadcast, transmission, publication, reproduction, disclosure, posting and any other use whatsoever.

Although PFA Scotland may from time to time monitor or review discussions, chats, postings, transmissions, bulletin boards and the like on its websites, PFA Scotland is under no obligation to do so and assumes no responsibility or liability arising from the content of any such locations nor for any error, omission, infringement, defamation, obscenity, or inaccuracy contained in any information within such locations on its websites.

If applicable, users are prohibited from posting or transmitting any unlawful, defamatory, obscene or scandalous material or any material that constitutes or encourages conduct that would be considered a criminal offence, likely to give rise to civil liability, or otherwise violates any law. PFA Scotland will fully cooperate with any law enforcement authorities or court order requesting or directing PFA Scotland to disclose the identity of anyone posting any such information or materials on its websites.

4.2 If applicable, PFA Scotland’ web server may automatically recognize the domain name and email address

(where possible) of users of its websites. PFA Scotland may collect the domain name and email address of visitors to its websites, the email addresses of those who communicate with PFA Scotland via email and aggregate information on the pages users access or visit and information volunteered by the user, such as survey information and/or site registrations.

4.3 The information collected by PFA Scotland is used for internal review, used to improve the content of its website, used to customize the content and/or layout of its websites for each individual user, used to notify users about updates to its websites, used by PFA Scotland to contact users for marketing purposes and is not shared with other organizations for commercial purposes.

5. Revision of Terms and Conditions5.1 PFA Scotland may at any time revise these terms and conditions without notice by posting changes online. Users are responsible for reviewing all information posted online and the continued use of PFA Scotland websites after changes are posted constitute the user’s acceptance of modified terms and conditions.

5.2 A user’s authorization to use PFA Scotland websites automatically terminates without notice if in PFA Scotland’ sole discretion the user fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions. On termination, the user must cease all use of PFA Scotland websites and destroy all and any materials copied directly or indirectly from any such websites.

6. GeneralThese terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland, England and Wales. If any provision of the foregoing is held to be unlawful, void or for any reason unenforceable, then that provision shall be deemed severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions. PFA Scotland websites are maintained for the personal use and viewing of users. Access to and use of these websites is subject to the following terms and conditions of use
(‘terms and conditions’).