(a) Any player who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an Official, in any manner attempts to injure an Official, physically demeans, or deliberately applies physical force to an Official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an Official during or immediately following an altercation shall receive a game misconduct penalty.

In addition, the following disciplinary penalties shall apply:

CATEGORY I

Any player who deliberately strikes an Official and causes injury or who deliberately applies physical force in any manner against an Official with intent to injure, or who in any manner attempts to injure an Official shall be automatically suspended for not less than 20 games. (For the purpose of the Rule, "intent to injure" shall mean any physical force which a player knew or should have known could reasonably be expected to cause injury.)

CATEGORY II

Any player who deliberately applies physical force to an Official in any manner (excluding actions as set out in Category One), which physical force is applied without intent to injure, shall be automatically suspended for not less than ten (10) games.

CATEGORY III

Any player who, by his actions, physically demeans an Official or who deliberately applies physical force to an Official solely for the purpose of getting free of such an Official during or immediately following an altercation shall be suspended for not less than three (3) games.

Immediately after the game in which such game misconduct penalty is imposed, the Referee shall, in consultation with the Linesmen, decide the category of the offense. He shall make an oral report to the Commissioner and advise of the category and of the offense. In addition, he shall file a written report to the Commissioner in which he may request a review as to the adequacy of the suspension. The player and club involved shall be notified of the decision of the Referee on the morning following the game and the player may request the Commissioner to review, subject to the provisions of this Rule, the penalty imposed by the Referee. Such request must be filed with the Commissioner in writing not later than seventy-two (72) hours following notification of the penalty. No appeal to the Board of Governors pursuant to By-Law 17 shall be available to the player unless a review has been conducted as provided herein.

If a review of the incident is requested by either the player or by the Official, a hearing will be conducted by the Commissioner as soon as practical prior to the fourth game of any suspension. The player's suspension shall continue pending the outcome of the hearing by the Commissioner.

After any review as called for hereby, the Commissioner shall issue an order either:

(1) sustaining the minimum suspension, or . . .

(2) increasing the number of games within the category, or . . .

(3) changing to a lower category, or . . .

(4) changing to a lower category and increasing the number of games within the category.

A player shall have the right of appeal from any such order pursuant to By-Law 17.11. Upon such appeal, the Board of Governors' determination shall be one of the four alternatives listed above.

The penalties imposed under this Rule shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Commissioner with respect to any action that he might otherwise take under By-Law 17.

In the event that the player has committed more than one offense under this Rule, in addition to the penalties imposed under this offense, his case shall be referred to the Commissioner of the League for consideration of supplementary disciplinary action.

(In all instances where the Commissioner is referred to in this Rule, it shall mean the Commissioner or his designee.)

(b) Any Club Executive, Manager, Coach or Trainer who holds or strikes an Official shall be automatically suspended from the game, ordered to the dressing room and the matter will be reported to the Commissioner for further disciplinary action.

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