This article, drawing on the recent case of Rohilla v The Members of Royal Mid Surrey Golf Course[1], will be a helpful reference for anyone involved in running sports clubs, from committee members to club secretaries. It shows why following proper procedures matter when dealing with membership disciplinary matters, and what can go wrong when personal feelings influence decision-making.

The case highlights the need for principles of natural justice to be applied in disciplinary cases and illustrates the issues that can arrive when a club removes a member without following proper procedures, ultimately leading to costly legal consequences.

• Allegation of Cheating & Revoking Membership
• The Court Hearing Seeking Injunction to Reinstate Membership
  • Taking Decisions Free from Bias
  • Breaching Natural Justice & Acting in Bad Faith
  • Damages & Injunction
• Lessons Learnt
  • Principles of Natural Justice and Procedural Fairness
  • Exercising the Power to Terminate
  • Granting Executive Powers to Management or a Committee