Hello Mr Booth

I will do my best to help you with this.

What you are talking about here are two different and contradictory sets of rules.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the European Convention of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and the Human Rights Act, all protect your right to freedom of expression and would support absolutely your right to voice your opinions and to criticise, in this case, the decisions of match officials.

However, what you have done here is to become involved in a cricket club and, in so doing, you have willingly consented to be bound by the rules of the club. Those rules, reasonably or otherwise, restrict what you can do and say in ways which have an impact on the club.

If you consider a work environment, when you are employed by an employer, there are many restrictions on what you can do and say (for example, how you look, what you wear) and which are contained in your employment contract and the employee handbook. Those rules are binding on you because you have willingly agreed to accept them as part of the job.

Unfortunately, you are stuck with the rules in relation to the club. Human rights protections are fundamentally protections against breaches by the State. If you had not signed up to the club and its rules but were printing articles criticising match officials, the club could do nothing and the State could do nothing because to do so would breach your right to freedom of expression.

In a sense, what you have done is akin to a breach of contract and the sanction for breach will be fine or expulsion etc.

My advice is to accept what they throw at you and be extremely polite and contrite (whilst feeling sick inside no doubt) in taking your medicine, in the hope that the club will be lenient.

Please rate OK SERVICE or above and I will gladly answer any follow up questions you have.

Best wishes
John

Ian

Glad to be of service.

Please remember to rate me positively so that I am credited for helping you.

Thank you very much
John