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What sports clubs should bear in mind when handling member disciplinary cases

Golf on green lawn
Monday, 11 August 2025 Author: Ian Debbage

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.

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Ian Debbage

Ian Debbage

Ian Debbage is a Director at Squire Patton Boggs. He is a commercial litigator with a varied practice, whose particular specialisms include:

  • Employment litigation – Acting for companies on matters involving employee issues including breaches of restrictive covenants, employee fraud and theft of confidential information. Matters have frequently involved obtaining injunctive relief at short notice.

  • Civil fraud – Acting for companies and individuals on claims involving losses suffered due to fraud including crypto fraud. Matters regularly involve asset tracing and obtaining freezing, as well as search and seizure orders.

  • Corporate litigation – Acting for companies and shareholders on issues including warranty and indemnity claims, shareholder disputes and breach of contract claims.
  • This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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